@article{3110858,
    title = "Smoking cessation effectiveness in smokers with COPD and asthma under real life conditions",
    author = "Gratziou, Ch. and Florou, A. and Ischaki, E. and Eleftheriou, K. and Sachlas, A. and Bersimis, S. and Zakynthinos, S.",
    journal = "Advances in Respiratory Medicine",
    year = "2014",
    volume = "108",
    number = "4",
    pages = "577-583",
    publisher = "W.B. Saunders Ltd",
    doi = "10.1016/j.rmed.2014.01.007",
    keywords = "adult;  article;  asthma;  chronic obstructive lung disease;  controlled study;  disease severity;  female;  human;  major clinical study;  male;  middle aged;  observational study;  outcome assessment;  outpatient care;  patient compliance;  priority journal;  program effectiveness;  retrospective study;  smoking cessation;  smoking cessation program;  aged;  asthma;  attitude to health;  forced expiratory volume;  motivation;  pathophysiology;  physiology;  procedures;  program evaluation;  Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive;  severity of illness index;  smoking;  vital capacity, Adult;  Aged;  Asthma;  Attitude to Health;  Female;  Forced Expiratory Volume;  Humans;  Male;  Middle Aged;  Motivation;  Patient Compliance;  Program Evaluation;  Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive;  Retrospective Studies;  Severity of Illness Index;  Smoking;  Smoking Cessation;  Vital Capacity",
    abstract = "Introduction Although smoking cessation is strongly indicated by international guidelines as an effective therapeutic tool for patients with COPD and Asthma, a large proportion of them do not quit smoking and they are regarded as a difficult target group. Aim To study the effectiveness of an intensive smoking cessation program in smokers with COPD and asthma under real-life conditions. Methods 166 smokers with COPD, 120 smokers with asthma and 1854 control smokers attended the smoking cessation program in the out-patient patient Smoking Cessation Clinic of the Pulmonary Department in Athens University. Continuous Abstinence Rate (CAR) was evaluated in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the target quit date. Results Short-term CAR (in 3 months) was 49.4% for COPD smokers, 51.7% for asthmatic smokers and 48.0% for the control group of smokers. 12 months after the initial visit the CAR was 13.9%, 18.3% and 15.9%, respectively. No statistically significant differences between groups at any study period were found. Smokers with good compliance with the program had higher long-term CAR after 12 months: 37.7% in COPD smokers, 40.0% in asthmatic smokers and 39.3% in control smokers. High CAR was observed at all stages of COPD severity. Conclusion The results support the view that smokers with respiratory obstructive airway diseases of any severity should be offered an intensive smoking cessation program with regular and long-term follow-up. This will help them to achieve high abstinence rates and prevent relapses. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved."
}