Smoking cessation after nurse-coordinated referral to a comprehensive lifestyle programme in patients with coronary artery disease: a substudy of the RESPONSE-2 trial

The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of successful quitters, their use of a smoking cessation programme and the use of other lifestyle interventions to improve lifestyle-related risk factors, within a nurse-coordinated care programme.

We used data from the multicentre randomised controlled RESPONSE-2 trial (n=824, The Netherlands). The trial was designed to assess the efficacy of nurse-coordinated referral to a comprehensive set of up to three community-based interventions, based on smoking cessation, healthy food choices and physical activity to improve lifestyle-related risk factors in coronary artery disease patients, compared to usual care. Smoking status was assessed using urinary cotinine at baseline and 12 months follow-up.

At 12 months follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference in cessation rates (50% intervention group vs. 46% usual care group, P=0.45). The majority of successful quitters in both groups quit immediately after hospitalisation (72% intervention group vs. 86% usual care group, P=0.29). Only 19% of successful quitters in the intervention group participated in the smoking cessation programme. However, successful quitters participated more frequently in other lifestyle programmes compared with persistent smokers (65% vs. 37%, P<0.01).

The majority of patients who successfully quit smoking are those who quit immediately after hospitalisation, without a need to participate in a smoking cessation programme. Moreover, this programme was attended by only a minority of successful quitters. Successful quitters were motivated to attend other lifestyle programmes addressing healthy food choices and physical activity. Our findings support a tailored, comprehensive approach to lifestyle interventions in the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease.