Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure Among Hospitalized Nonsmokers With Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Sandra J. Japuntich, Michelle A. Eilers, Sharon Shenhav, Elyse R. Park, Jonathan P. Winickoff, Neal L. Benowitz, Nancy A. Rigotti
Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine (2014)

Letters Figure. Computed Tomographic Scan of Chest (Case 3) Author Affiliations: Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado (Nelson, Mead); Upstate Infectious Disease Associates, Albany, New York (Elmendorf). Corresponding Author: Christina Nelson, MD, MPH, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd, Mail Stop P-02, Fort Collins, CO 80521 (wje1@cdc.gov). Published Online: November 3, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.5426. Author Contributions: Dr Nelson had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Nelson, Elmendorf. Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors. Drafting of the manuscript: Nelson, Elmendorf. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors. Administrative, technical, or material support: Nelson, Elmendorf. Study supervision: Mead. Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported. Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Non–small cell adenocarcinoma of the lung (arrowhead) that caused symptoms attributed to chronic Lyme disease. Shortly afterward, an expanding 18 × 15-cm erythematous rash appeared below his left shoulder. The rash resolved but mal- aise and fatigue recurred. Two additional doxycycline courses provided only transient improvement. Five months after his ini- tial diagnosis, the patient was referred to an infectious disease specialist for presumed chronic Lyme disease. The results of the physical examination and laboratory evaluation were normal except for a slightly elevated white blood cell count. Results of serologic testing for Lyme disease were consistent with previous infection (Table). The patient had a remote 18 pack-year history of smoking. The chest ra- diograph revealed a 1.1-cm nodular mass in the right upper lobe confirmed by computed tomographic scan (Figure). Further evaluation demonstrated stage I non–small cell adenocarci- noma, which was successfully resected. Additional Contributions: We are extremely grateful to the patients for sharing their experiences. We also thank Denise Levitan, MD, and Richard Krumdieck, MD, for their helpful input. Neither Dr Levitan nor Dr Krumdieck received compensation. 1. Wormser GP, Dattwyler RJ, Shapiro ED, et al. The clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention of Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;43(9):1089-1134. 2. Feder HM Jr, Johnson BJ, O’Connell S, et al; Ad Hoc International Lyme Disease Group. A critical appraisal of “chronic Lyme disease” [published correction appears in N Engl J Med. 2008;358(10):1084]. N Engl J Med. 2007; 3. Patel R, Grogg KL, Edwards WD, Wright AJ, Schwenk NM. Death from inappropriate therapy for Lyme disease. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;31(4):1107-1109. 4. Holzbauer SM, Kemperman MM, Lynfield R. Death due to community- associated Clostridium difficile in a woman receiving prolonged antibiotic therapy for suspected Lyme disease. Clin Infect Dis. 2010;51(3):369-370. 5. Steere AC, Taylor E, McHugh GL, Logigian EL. The overdiagnosis of Lyme disease. JAMA. 1993;269(14):1812-1816. Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure Among Hospitalized Nonsmokers With Coronary Heart Disease Discussion | Patients 1 and 2 had no evidence of ever having Lyme disease. Patient 3 likely had true Borrelia burgdorferi infec- tion for which antibiotic therapy was appropriate; however, subsequent symptoms were incorrectly attributed to persis- tent infection. Chronic Lyme disease is a misleading term that should be avoided. 2 Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome is the proper term for patients with a verified previous B burgdorferi infec- tion who experience fatigue, arthralgias, or other symptoms 6 months or more after antibiotic treatment when all other con- ditions have been ruled out. 1,2,5 We are not suggesting that every patient with nonspe- cific symptoms, such as fatigue, joint pain, or abdominal pain, should be aggressively evaluated for cancer. Rather, we pre- sent these cases to demonstrate delays in diagnosis that come from assuming that patients have chronic Lyme disease. Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) increases adult nonsmokers’ risk of cardiovascular disease by 25% to 30%. 1 Among nonsmokers hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome, SHS exposure is associated with a higher like- Invited Commentary page 136 lihood of subsequent cardio- vascular and all-cause mor- tality as well as reinfarction. 2,3 Hospitalized nonsmokers with coronary heart disease (CHD) should avoid SHS exposure af- ter discharge, but little is known about the frequency of SHS exposure in this population or whether clinicians (including nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, and physi- cians) address it. The present study assessed self-report and biochemical measures of SHS exposure among hospitalized nonsmokers with CHD and explored patients’ beliefs and the clinicians’ actions about SHS. Christina Nelson, MD, MPH Sarah Elmendorf, MD Paul Mead, MD, MPH Methods | The study was approved by the Massachusetts Gen- eral Hospital/Partners Health Care System Institutional Re- view Board. Participants provided oral consent; they re- jamainternalmedicine.com JAMA Internal Medicine January 2015 Volume 175, Number 1 Copyright 2015 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.