Predictors of smoking relapse after noncardiac surgery. Study of Perioperative Ischemia (SPI) Research Group.

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Abstract
OBJECTIVES. We studied 235 smokers who were admitted for major noncardiac surgery and who survived hospitalization to determine the frequency and predictors of smoking relapse 1 year after hospitalization. METHODS. We analyzed data collected prospectively from the Study of Perioperative Ischemia. We determined smoking status by self-report. RESULTS. At 12 months posthospitalization, 142 (76%) of the 186 surviving patients had resumed smoking. Significant independent predictors of relapse at 12 months were a history of alcohol abuse and a history of heavy cigarette smoking (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS. Since smokers commonly undergo surgery, the perioperative period provides a valuable window of opportunity for smoking cessation interventions designed to decrease the high rate of smoking relapse after surgery.