Predictors of Successful Smoking Cesstion in Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients with a History of Acute Coronary Syndrome

Aim: To establish socio-psychological and clinical smoking predictors cessation at the stage of health-resort rehabilitation in patients who have recently suffered an acute coronary event. Materials and Methods: 68 patients aged 42-68 years (average age 56.70}6.1 years) who underwent a cardiorehabilitation program in the heart rehabilitation department of the health-resort complex „Morshinkurort” after a recent ACS (no more than 28 days ago) were examined. Depending on the smoking habit, all patients were divided into two groups. The first (I) group included smoking patients who gave up smoking in the course of CR (n=38, average age 57.10}6.73 years), the second (II) group included smokers who continued smoking during the healthresort stay treatment (n=30, average age 56.58}5.74 years). Predictors of smoking cessation were determined in patients of the studied groups using the method of binary logistic regression. Results: In the course of the study, 5 independent predictors of quitting smoking were established, which turned out to be statistically significant - smoking index, anxiety level, body mass index, comorbidity and marital status. The chances of quitting smoking were 1.79 times greater (95% CI from 1.25 to 2.56) in patients with higher BMI and 3.23 times (95% CI from 0.57 to 18.40) in those who are in family status. High comorbidity, higher SI score, and higher anxiety levels were significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of quitting smoking. Conclusions: Cardiac rehabilitation patients with high nicotine dependence, lower body weight, loneliness, significant anxiety symptoms, and multiple comorbidities are less likely to successfully quit smoking. Established independent predictors of smoking cessation must be used when choosing strategies for the treatment of tobacco addiction at the stage of CR. Screening and treatment for anxiety disorders should be included in smoking cessation programs to improve the SI effectiveness.