A new study has revealed the importance of completely quitting smoking in reducing the risk of a heart attack. Researchers found that cutting down on smoking has minimal impact on cardiovascular risk, but quitting the habit entirely can almost halve the chances of a heart attack. The study focused on patients with stable coronary artery disease and showed that those who quit smoking after their diagnosis saw a significant improvement in their cardiovascular outcomes, reducing their risk of major cardiac events by 44%. On the other hand, patients who only reduced their smoking did not see a significant change in their risk compared to those who continued smoking unchanged.
The research, conducted by French scientists using data from the international CLARIFY registry with 32,378 patients, highlighted the importance of quitting smoking, especially within the first year after a diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Dr Jules Mesnier from Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard in Paris emphasised that quitting smoking, regardless of when it occurs, leads to improved cardiovascular outcomes. The study showed that for each year of continued smoking after a coronary artery disease diagnosis, the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) increased by 8%. Additionally, even after years of abstaining from smoking, those who quit never reached the same level of cardiovascular risk as those who had never smoked.
Dr Mesnier stressed the significance of delivering clear messages to smokers about the importance of quitting in every medical intervention. The study’s findings will be presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in London. Dr Mesnier reported, “Telling patients they can cut their risk of a subsequent major event or death by half as we have shown here is a powerful message.”
These findings underscore the critical impact of completely quitting smoking in reducing the risk of heart attacks among patients with coronary artery disease. It is never too late to stop smoking, with the study highlighting the remarkable benefits of quitting the habit entirely.