Smoking habits in consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction: prognosis in relation to other risk indicators and to whether or not they quit smoking

Abstract

In all patients hospitalized in one single hospital due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during a period of 21 months, we describe the prognosis in relation to smoking habits and other risk indicators with death. Of 862 AMI patients, 37% reported smoking at the onset of AMI. Of the patients who smoked at the onset of AMI and who survived the first year, 53% reported having quit smoking. Patients who had quit smoking reported fewer symptoms of chest pain (p < 0.01), headache (p < 0.01) and dizziness (p < 0.001) as compared with patients who continued to smoke after one year. Of the patients who had quit smoking, the mortality during the subsequent 4 years was 17% as compared with 31% for patients who continued to smoke (p < 0.05). However, patients who quit smoking less frequently had a previous history of myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. When correcting for such dissimilarities, quitting smoking did not remain significantly associated with prognosis.