REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS Quitting smoking is associated with a substantial reduction in risk of all-cause mortality among patients with CHD .
This 36 % risk reduction appears substantial compared with other secondary preventive therapies such as cholesterol lowering which have received greater attention in recent years .
The risk reduction associated with quitting smoking seems consistent regardless of differences between the studies in terms of index cardiac events , age , sex , country , and time period .
BACKGROUND Although the importance of smoking as a risk factor for coronary heart disease is beyond doubt , the speed and magnitude of risk reduction when a smoker with coronary heart disease quits are still subjects of debate .
OBJECTIVES To estimate the magnitude of risk reduction when a patient with CHD stops smoking .
Risk factors for ischaemic heart disease: the prospective phase of the British Regional Heart Study.
Risk factors for major ischaemic heart disease ( acute myocardial infa rct ion or sudden death ) have been investigated in a prospect i ve study of 7735 men aged 40 - 59 years drawn from general practice s in 24 British towns . After a mean follow-up of 4.2 years , there have been 202 cases of major ischaemic heart disease . Univariate estimates of the risk of ischaemic heart disease show that serum total cholesterol , HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations , systolic and diastolic blood pressures , cigarette smoking , and body mass index are all associated with increased risk of ischaemic heart disease . Evidence of ischaemic heart disease at initial examination is also strongly associated with increased risk of subsequent ischaemic heart disease . All these factors were then considered simultaneously using multiple logistic models . Definite myocardial infa rct ion on electrocardiogram and recall of a doctor diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease remained predictive of subsequent major ischaemic heart disease , after allowance for all other risk factors . Serum total cholesterol , blood pressure , and cigarette smoking each remained as highly significant independent risk factors whereas overweight , above average levels of HDL-cholesterol and serum triglyceride were not predictive of risk after allowance for the above factors . Men with and without pre-existing ischaemic heart disease were examined separately in the same way ( using multiple logistic models ) . The strength of association between the principal risk factors and subsequent major ischaemic heart disease was reduced in the men with pre-existing ischaemic heart disease , only age and serum total cholesterol remaining highly significant . Overall the levels of the major risk factors commonly encountered in British men have a marked effect on the risk of ischaemic heart disease . Modification of these risk factors in the general population constitutes an important national priority
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS Quitting smoking is associated with a substantial reduction in risk of all-cause mortality among patients with CHD .
This 36 % risk reduction appears substantial compared with other secondary preventive therapies such as cholesterol lowering which have received greater attention in recent years .
The risk reduction associated with quitting smoking seems consistent regardless of differences between the studies in terms of index cardiac events , age , sex , country , and time period .
BACKGROUND Although the importance of smoking as a risk factor for coronary heart disease is beyond doubt , the speed and magnitude of risk reduction when a smoker with coronary heart disease quits are still subjects of debate .
OBJECTIVES To estimate the magnitude of risk reduction when a patient with CHD stops smoking .