It is not properly estimated the cigarette consumption after a relapse compared with the consumption before a smoking cessation therapy. The aim of this study was to know if tobacco consumption among relapsed smokers that visited a smoking cessation unit is higher or lower than consumption preceding dishabituation therapy and the related factors to this consumption change.

Subjects and methods

1516 smokers who received a multicomponent program for smoking cessation have been studied. The percentage of reduction after the relapse in relation to previous consumption and the consumption difference with regard to basal variables among 994 relapsed smokers has been calculated. A logistic regression model was used in order to analyze the predictors to reduce more than 50% of previous cigarette consumption.

Results

Relapsed patients smoked 20.4% less than before the smoking cessation therapy. Smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and with the age of 50 years or more, had the highest rate of reduction consumption. The best predictors for cigarette reduction were those of low nicotine dependence and being heavy smokers.

Conclusions

Heavy smokers or low nicotine dependence smokers have a higher probability to reduce their cigarette consumption. Other predictor variables are age of more than 50 years, high previous consumption or previous abstinence period of more than 6 months.

Keywords: Smoking cessation; Relapse; Tobacco consumption

Corresponding author. Preventive Medicine Servide, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, c/ Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. Fax: +34 93 260 78 49.

Sergio Morchon, Cristina Masuet and Josep Maria Ramon
Smoking Cessation Unit, Preventive Medicine Service, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

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