SESSION TITLE: Tobacco Cessation SESSION TYPE: Original Investigation Slide PRESENTED ON: Sunday, October 29, 2017 at 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM PURPOSE: Accredited U.S. and Brazilian hospitals prohibit smoking inside hospital buildings. Patients are expected to abstain from smoking throughout their hospitalization, but how many do so is unclear. Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of smoking among hospitalized patients at a university hospital, the seasonal variation and gender differences. METHODS: Methods: Cross-sectional population-based study involving adult patients hospitalized for over 24 h at the University Hospital from the State University of Londrina, Brazil conducted from February 2016 to March 2017. Patients were interviewed during four distinct seasons. We collected demographic, socioeconomic data and information regarding smoking, diagnosis at admission, Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and measurement of expired carbon monoxide. Expired carbon monoxide ≥ than 6 ppm was considered a significant indicator of recent smoking. RESULTS: Results: We interviewed 268 patients: 40 (15%) were smokers; 91 (34%) were former smokers and 137 (51%) were never smokers; the mean age of the smokers was 47 ± 16 years, and 17 (42.5%) of the smokers were female. Among smokers, the median age at smoking initiation was 15 years; the mean smoking history was 30 ± 10 pack-years; 35 (87%) was heavy smokers (11 or more cigarettes per day). The mean Fagerström score was 4.4 ± 2.0 and 25% of smokers had a high or very high degree of nicotine dependence. The mean expired carbon monoxide among smokers was 9.15 ± 8.3 ppm. Expired carbon monoxide levels were ≥ than 6 ppm among smokers (55%) although smoking is formally prohibited inside the hospital. Smoking at any time during the hospitalization was reported during the fall in 4/10 (40%), during the spring in 3/7 (43%), during the summer in 5/8 (62%), and smoking during the winter was more often than the rest of the year in 10/15 (67%). CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions: Nearly half of smokers admitted to a smoke-free hospital smoked during their hospital stay. Implementation of a tobacco cessation program (including nicotine replacement therapy) at admission and ongoing monitoring of patients’ nicotine cravings might reduce smoking among inpatients. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Millions of adults who smoke are hospitalized yearly, providing a window of opportunity for smoking cessation interventions. Practice guidelines recommend that these hospitalized patients be offered smoking cessation treatment. Smoking by inpatients may compromise patient safety, clinical outcomes, and hospital efficiency. DISCLOSURE: The following authors have nothing to disclose: Marcos Ribeiro, Ana Maisato, Ana Carneiro, Lorraine Souza, Maria Mortoti, Natalia Adamzuk, Rafaela Costa, Raniel Correia, Isabela Almeida, Nathalia Nassu, Alcindo Neto, Fatima Soares, Olavo Filho, Renata Dip, Nadia Kienen, Regina Cruz, Isabel Scarinci No Product/Research Disclosure Information