Supervisors info:
Δημήτριος Τούσουλης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ελένη Κυρίτση, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Αττικής
Κωνσταντίνος Π. Τούτουζας, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Introduction: The contribution of varenicline therapy to smoking cessation in patients with acute coronary syndrome in combination with counseling support as an alternative way to successfully quit smoking.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of varenicline in combination with intensive smoking cessation counseling during a 6 month cardiac rehabilitation program in patients after a acute coronary syndrome.
Material and method: The sample of the study consisted of 73 patients who went to the Emergency Situations Department due to an acute cardiac event and attempted to stop smoking with the aid of varenicline and intensive counselling. The data were collected by supplementing the patients’ questionnaire specifically designed for this study purposes. The statistical analysis was performed by applying the chi-square test and the significance level was set to <0,05.
Results: The 65,8% of the sample was males, the 85,0% had ACS and 19,2% had diabetes. The 20,5% consumed 15-20 cigarettes per day, the 69,9% 20-30, over 30 the 9,6% of the sample, and the 64,4% made smoking cessation efforts. As a side effect of varenicline the 23,3% observed nausea, the 46,6% depression, the 17,8% sleep disorders and the 26,0% other side effects such as constipation, strange dreams and headache. No statistically significant differences were found with respect to variables related to varenicline versus sex, p> 0,05. People aged less than 60 years, more frequently observed the effect of nausea (p=0,024) whereas people living in Athens frequently asked for help -encouragement from 3 times and above (p=0,031), alike those with co-morbidity (p= 0,038). Individuals who had attempted to quit smoking before, received varenicline for more than 3 weeks (p=0,001), have not smoked during the last week (p = 0,033), more often looked for extra help - encouragement during the treatment period (p=0,013), did not change dietary habits after initiation of treatment (p= 0,011), did not reduce the amount of salt (p=0,039) nor fat (p=0,035) or sweets (p=0,034). Well-informed patients receive varenicline for 3 weeks and more (p=0,028) and prefer the gym as a physical exercise (p=0,027).
Conclusions: The pharmaceutical method with the use of varenicline in combination with counselling has quite positive results and is able to contribute to the cessation of smoking.
