title: Effects of aging on the effectiveness of smoking cessation medication.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Considering the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects of different medications, it is plausible that the age of a smoker could affect the half-life of these drugs. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of smoking cessation drugs (nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, and varenicline) used either in isolation or in combination in adults under and over 60 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 940 Brazilian patients participating in a smoking cessation program. Participants were prescribed smoking cessation medication to be used for at least 12 weeks and were followed for 52 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cessation rates were significantly different among younger and older participants who were using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) alone. Being over 60 years of age was significantly associated with increased cessation success among those who used NRT alone (OR 2.34, 95% CI: 1.36 to 4.04, p = 0.002). The effectiveness of varenicline and bupropion were not significantly different according to age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using age as a predictor for tailoring smoking cessation drugs might potentially lead to a more individualized prescription of smoking cessation therapy. These results should be tested in randomized controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Smoking Cessation Program Department, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Caleb Junior Lima
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Cardio Geriatric Clinical Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina Giusti
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Buzo
authors.affiliation: Cardio Geriatric Clinical Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.|Fleury Group, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Neuza Helena Moreira
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Smoking Cessation Program Department, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tania Ogawa
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Smoking Cessation Program Department, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia Viviane
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Gaya
authors.affiliation: Cardio Geriatric Clinical Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pierri
authors.affiliation: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Clarice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Costa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D016642:Bupropion / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000379:methods; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000068580:Varenicline / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D016642:Bupropion; D009538:Nicotine; D000068580:Varenicline
keywords: Gerotarget; aging; bupropion; nicotine replacement therapy; smoking cessation; varenicline