Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Evaluation of Varenicline (Champix) in Smoking Cessation for Patients Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome (EVITA) Trial
Brief Summary: The EVITA study is a clinical trial that will test the effect of varenicline (Champix™), a new drug used to help people quit smoking, in patients who have suffered a heart attack. Varenicline has been recently shown to increase the number of otherwise healthy people who quit smoking compared to placebo (sugar pill). Although varenicline has been shown to reduce smoking in healthy populations, its effectiveness in patients recovering from a heart attack is unknown. The EVITA trial will help answer this question.

A total of 300 patients who have recently suffered a heart attack and are active smokers will be recruited in the study. For twelve weeks, half the patients will receive varenicline and the other half will receive placebo pills. Patients will be followed for a period of 12 months. During this time, patients will receive telephone calls and go to clinic visits in order to assess if they are smoking. These follow-ups will also assess any side effects and clinical events such as another heart attack or hospitalization that patients may have had. Smoking cessation will be checked using exhaled carbon monoxide readings and self-reports.

The EVITA trial will be the first study to examine the use of varenicline in patients who have recently had a heart attack. These patients, if they continue to smoke, are at high risk of having another cardiac event. If varenicline is shown to be useful in this population, it will have a major impact on prevention of cardiac events in patients who have suffered a heart attack.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects must have smoked an average of at least 10 cigarettes per day during the past year and over the month prior to the screening visit, with no period of abstinence greater than 3 months in the past year.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects who have used bupropion (Zyban or Wellbutrin) previously.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

A software program using Anatomical Therapeutical Chemical (ATC) prescription codes and International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) diagnosis codes selected potential patients with COPD. Criteria: age \>35 years and a diagnosis recorded as COPD or as ICPC code R95/96, or a prescription of at least three times of bronchodilators (ATC code R03a/bc) and/or prescription of at least two times of inhaled anti-inflammatory medication in the past year (ATC code R03). General practitioners (GPs) had to confirm the diagnosis of the selection. Patients were eligible to participate if they met the following criteria:

* Current smoking
* Suffering from COPD according to the GP's diagnosis
* In command of the Dutch language.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Too ill
* Under control of a chest physician
* Serious physical or psychological comorbidity
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Smoke at least 10 cigarettes per day for the previous 6 months - Expired CO \> 9 ppm - Motivated to quit smoking - Able to read and write English - Willing to complete required study assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

* Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic \>180mm Hg or diastolic \>110mm Hg) - History of bipolar disorder or psychosis - Myocardial infarction or other serious cardiac problem in the previous 4 weeks - History of diagnosed anorexia and/or bulimia - Diagnosis of Alcohol Dependence in the previous 6 months by participant self-report or drinking 6 or more drinks on six or more days a week - History of seizure and/or serious head injury involving loss of consciousness - Use of contraindicated medications (MAO inhibitors, bupropion, lithium, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics) - Currently pregnant or breast-feeding - Unwilling to use effective contraception during the treatment phase - More than one participant from the same household - Allergic reactions to 3 or more classes of drugs
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Active smoker, greater than or equal to 10 cigarettes per day, on average, for the past year.
* Age greater than or equal to 18 years.
* Motivated to quit smoking.
* Able to understand and to provide informed consent in English or French.
* Likely to be available for follow-up.
* Suffered an ACS, including myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable angina (UA) with significant coronary artery disease, and currently hospitalized or at discharge from current hospitalization.

MI is defined as positive Troponin T, Troponin I, or CK-MB levels and ≥ 1 of the following:

1. Ischemic symptoms (i.e. typical chest pain) for at least 20 minutes.
2. Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes indicative of ischemia (ST-segment elevation or depression).
3. Development of pathological Q waves on the ECG.

UA with significant coronary artery disease is defined as all of the following:

1. Negative Troponin T, Troponin I, or CK-MB levels;
2. Ischemic symptoms (i.e. typical chest pain) for at least 20 minutes;
3. ECG changes indicative of ischemia (ST-segment changes); and
4. At least one lesion ≥ 50% on angiogram performed during the current hospitalization.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Medical condition with a prognosis of \< 1 year.
* Pregnant or lactating females.
* Reported NYHA Class or Killip III or IV at randomization.
* Previous use of varenicline.
* Current use of any medical therapy for smoking cessation (e.g. BuSpar, doxepin,fluoxetine, nicotine gum, nicotine patch, or bupropion).
* History of bulimia or anorexia nervosa.
* Diagnosis of major depression (requiring medication) in the previous 5 years or diagnosis of two or more lifetime episodes of major depression (requiring medication)
* A total of 5 or more responses (one of which includes question 1 or 2) of "more than half the days" or "nearly every day" to the questions on the PHQ-9 questionnaire.
* History of suicidal events (previous suicide attempt, suicidal ideation) or family history of suicide.
* History of or current panic disorder, psychosis, bipolar disease, or dementia.
* Diagnosed hepatic failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis or history of hepatic impairment (AST or ALT levels greater than or equal to 2 times upper limit of normal prior to admission for ACS).
* Renal impairment with creatinine levels greater than or equal to 2 times the upper limit of normal.
* Excessive alcohol consumption defined as greater than or equal to 14 alcoholic drinks per week.
* Use of any illegal drugs in the past year (e.g. cocaine, heroin, opiates).
* Use of any marijuana or other tobacco products during the study.
* Current use of over-the-counter stimulants (e.g. ephedrine, phenylephrine) or anorectics.

Answer: D