Estimating the short-term clinical and economic benefits of smoking cessation: do we have it right?

Abstract

Smoking cessation is cost effective from a long-term perspective, but less is known about its short-term cost-effectiveness. Short-term health benefits are clear for certain groups, such as cardiovascular patients, pregnant women and patients undergoing surgery. Smoking cessation reduces overall mortality, cardiovascular mortality and cancer-related mortality within 5 years of quitting, and, in some cases, the risks are reduced to the levels of never smokers. In this article, conducted from a USA policy perspective, we found some evidence of the clinical and economic benefits of smoking cessation in the short term, which could be incorporated into cost-effectiveness studies. Nonetheless, the policy and social welfare implications of a short-term focus must be carefully evaluated, considering the established favorable long-term cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation.