Journal Club - Smokers With Heart Disease can add up 5 Years by Quitting

The investigators pooled individual-level risk factor data from six recent prospective studies: The analysis involved 989 patients 45 years and older who were treated with antiplatelet agents, statins, and antihypertensive drugs but were still smoking at least 6 months after having an MI and/or undergoing stent implantation or coronary bypass surgery.

The primary outcome was treatment benefit, defined as gain in years without an MI or stroke, as estimated by the SMART-REACH model. Smoking cessation resulted in a mean of 4.81 event-free years a gain comparable with persistent smoking with the three drugs combined. The average number of event-free years was 0.6 with bempedoic acid alone, 2.2 with colchicine alone, and 2.6 with only a PCSK9 inhibitor.

However, it was new to express this benefit in a comparison to the benefits of medication. For example, PCSK9 [inhibition] is known for its efficacy, but it is also very expensive, said researchers, they hoped this information motivates healthcare professionals and patients to quit smoking prior to prescribing expensive drugs. It might not even be needed.