Smoking cessation among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Abstract

Abstract Nine variables were assessed to determine which were most associated with the ability to quit smoking among 107 pulmonary rehabilitation patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Most (67%) patients were ex-smokers at the time of admission. Discriminant analysis revealed that psychosocial factors were significantly related to the ability to stop smoking prior to hospitalization, and pack-years smoking history significantly differentiated smokers from ex-smokers at follow-up 5–54.5 months after hospitalization. None of the other variables were significantly associated with smoking cessation, and even the two significant variables (psychosocial assets and pack-years) were not able to separate smokers from ex-smokers beyond base-rate expectations. While most smokers with COPD did quit smoking, those who failed to do so prior to their hospitalization were likely to continue their habit indefinitely.