Cardiac patients would gain 5 years of life if they quit smoking, says study

There is more evidence that smokers with heart disease should quit the habit as soon as possible if they want a chance to live longer. Smoking tobacco releases more than 7,000 chemicals into the lungs and bloodstream, many of which weigh heavily on the arteries, cause damage, and restrict blood flow. At the same time, gases released into the lungs are captured by the blood, leaving less room for oxygen to reach the heart.

More than 480,000 people die annually in the U.S. Department of Commerce due to first- or second-hand cigarette smoke, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Now, a group of researchers from the Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam presented a new study at ESC Preventive Cardiology 2022, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology, where they warn that quitting smoking adds the same number of years of life without heart disease as three combined preventive drugs.

“The benefits of quitting smoking are even greater than we thought,” explained one of the study's lead authors, specialist Tinka Van Trier. Our research shows that quitting the habit seems to be as effective as taking three medications to prevent heart attacks and strokes in people with a previous heart attack or a procedure to open blocked arteries. Patients could gain nearly five years of healthy life.”

The study used data from 989 patients aged 45 and older who continued to smoke at least six months after suffering a heart attack and/or undergoing stent or bypass surgery. “This group,” he added, is at particularly high risk of having another heart attack or stroke, and quitting smoking is potentially the most effective preventive action.”

The average age was 60 years and 23% were women. In general, patients received good treatment with standard preventive drugs (antiplatelets, statins, and blood pressure-lowering drugs). The median time since infarction or procedure was 1.2 years. The researchers used the SMART-REACH model (a model for estimating life expectancy without recurring events) to estimate the gain in healthy years, i.e. without a heart attack or stroke, if patients quit smoking.

They also calculated the benefits in healthy years if patients continued to smoke but took three additional medications to prevent cardiovascular disease. All three drugs included bempedoic acid and PCSK9 inhibitors, which lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and colchicine, an anti-inflammatory therapy.

The researchers found that the estimated benefit of quitting smoking appeared to be comparable to the use of the three pharmaceutical treatments together. Quitting smoking resulted in a 4.81-year event-free gain, while the three drugs together provided a 4.83-year event-free gain.

“This indicates that quitting smoking is a very important step in adding healthy years to life,” explained Van Trier. It is important to remember that the analysis did not even take into account the other advantages of quitting the habit, for example, on respiratory diseases, cancer and longevity.”

In her presentation, the specialists highlighted some other points that the specialist emphasizes: “Quitting smoking remains the cornerstone for preventing heart attacks and strokes and improving overall health at any time, even after a heart attack and at any age. We know that smoking is responsible for 50% of all preventable deaths in smokers, of which half are due to cardiovascular disease. Quitting smoking after a cardiac episode is linked to better survival compared to persistent smoking.” The scientist, meanwhile, concluded: “If you are considering quitting smoking or want to learn more about it, talk to a healthcare professional. Their motivation is key to successfully quitting smoking, but overcoming an addiction becomes easier with medical and psychological assistance.”

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