Effects of smoking and cessation on subclinical arterial disease: a substudy of a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The mechanisms by which smoking cessation reduces cardiovascular disease risk are unclear. We evaluated longitudinal changes in carotid intima-media thickness among current smokers enrolled in a prospective, randomized smoking cessation clinical trial.

Methodology/principal findings

Subjects were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 5 smoking cessation pharmacotherapies and underwent carotid ultrasonography with carotid intima-media thickness measurement. Subjects were classified as continuously abstinent (biochemically confirmed abstinence at 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years post-quit attempt), intermittently abstinent (reported smoking at one of the three time points), or smoked continuously (reported smoking at all three time points)

SUBMITTER: Johnson HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3322167 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature