BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is an important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Few studies have investigated the frequency of smoking cessation among patients submitted to heart surgery. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of smoking cessation in patients submitted to coronary artery bypass graft surgery. METHODS: In this cohort study, 203 consecutive patients, aged above 18, submitted to coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the period from January 2006 to March 2007, were interviewed in relation to the use of cigarettes in the pre- and postoperative period. Smokers were stratified according to the levels of nicotine dependence with the use of Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test. They were followed as outpatients during 60 and 90 days for the occurrence of smoking. RESULTS: The mean age of the group was 62 ± 10 years, and 134 (66%) were male. Before surgery, 146 (71.9%) patients were smokers. A significant number of patients stopped smoking in the postoperative period: 136 (93.15%) and 137 (93.84%) on days 60 and 90, respectively, remained not smoking after surgery. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is an important determinant of smoking cessation.
Myocardial revascularization; Risk factors; Smoking
