Health-related quality of life in asthmatic patients who attended a smoking cessation program

Abstract

Backgrounds; Cigarette Smoking elicits airflow obstruction in patients with asthma, even after smoking cessation. Few studies have examined the effects of smoking cessation on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Objectives; The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a smoking cessation program on HRQOL, and to identify the predictors of successful tobacco abstinence in asthmatic smokers. Methods; An observational study was conducted on all smokers who attended the three-months smoking cessation program in our clinic between 2007 and 2013. HRQOL was assessed at baseline and at the end of the program using the St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ). Results; Of the 570 participants, 71(12.5%) had bronchial asthma (mean age: 52.3±14.4, male/female=26/45). Thirty-five (49.3%) asthmatic patients accomplished the program. The cessation rate at 12 weeks was 68.6%. Comorbidities included mental disorders (38.0%), COPD (15.5%), malignant neoplasm (11.5%), cardiovascular disease (5.6%), and diabetes mellitus (5.6%). Both quitters and smokers showed improved SGRQ scores after 3 month program, except activity scores. Quitters showed lower rate of comorbid psychiatric disorder (25.0% and 63.6%, P = 0.03), higher prescription rate of varenicline (50.0% and 9.1%, P = 0.03), and lower %FEV1 (63.2±16.8 and 78.5±12.4, P = 0.01). No significant differences were found between quitters and smokers in the average pack-year, and the average nicotine addiction level, according to the tobacco dependence screener (TDS) test. Conclusion; The smoking cessation treatment improves HRQOL regardless of success in quitting smoking.