It is known that smoking cessation substantially reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but does any subsequent weight gain attenuate the benefits of quitting smoking? \u00a0The goal of this study was to answer this question in adults with and without diabetes. \u00a0Specifically, the authors tested the hypothesis that quitting smoking decreases CVD risk compared with continuing smoking, regardless of any associated weight gain.<\/p>\n
Data collected from the Framingham Offspring Study between 1984 and 2011 were used. \u00a0At four-yearly examinations, patients were weighed and also categorised as being smokers, recent quitters (\u22644 years), long-term quitters (>4 years), and nonsmokers. \u00a0The main outcome measure was the incidence over six years of total CVD events: coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular events, peripheral artery disease, and congestive heart failure.<\/p>\n
Over a mean follow-up of 25 years, 631 CVD events occurred among 3251 participants. \u00a0Of note, the median four year weight gain was greater for recent quitters without diabetes (2.7kg) and with diabetes (3.6kg), than for long-term quitters (0.9kg and 0.0kg, respectively). \u00a0After adjustment for CVD risk factors, compared to ongoing smokers, recent quitters had a greatly reduced hazard ration (HR) for CVD of 0.47, and long-term quitters had an HR of 0.46; after further adjustment for weight change these associations showed only minimal change.<\/p>\n
Conclusions<\/strong>:<\/p>\n This study underlines the substantial cardiovascular benefits of quitting smoking in patients without diabetes, which were not attenuated by any subsequent weight gain.<\/p>\n