title: State quitlines and cessation patterns among adults with selected chronic diseases in 15 states, 2005-2008.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The death rate of people who have a chronic disease is lower among former smokers than current smokers. State tobacco cessation quitlines are available for free in every state. The objective of our study was to compare demographic characteristics, use of quitline services, and quit rates among a sample of quitline callers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from 15 states on tobacco users aged 18 or older who enrolled with a quitline between October 1, 2005, and May 31, 2008; 9 states also provided data from 7-month follow-up surveys. We used descriptive statistics and logistic regression to compare callers by disease status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 195,057 callers, 32.3% reported having 1 or more of the following chronic diseases: 17.7%, asthma; 5.9%, coronary artery disease; 11.1%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and 9.3%, diabetes; 9.0% had 2 or more chronic diseases. Callers who had a chronic disease were older and better educated; more likely to be female, have Medicaid or other health insurance, and have used tobacco for 20 years or more; and less likely to quit smoking (22.3%) at 7 months than callers who had none of these chronic diseases (29.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  About one-third of tobacco users who call state quitlines have a chronic disease, and those who have a chronic disease are less likely to quit using tobacco. Continued efforts are needed to ensure cessation treatments are reaching tobacco users who have a chronic disease and to develop and test ways to increase quit rates among them.
authors.affiliation: Alere Wellbeing, Inc, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. terry.bush@alere.com
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zbikowski
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deprey
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mowery
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cerutti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006285:Health Planning; D015277:Hotlines / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000639:trends; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D040241:Social Marketing; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors