Behavioural interventions for smoking cessation in patients hospitalised for a major cardiovascular event.

The impact of cigarette smoking on progression of atherosclerosis in patients with known cardiovascular disease suggests a strong need for effective cessation interventions in this group. This letter compares and discusses smoking cessation outcomes following behavioural smoking cessation interventions versus usual care in hospitalised cardiovascular patients using meta-analysis of randomised controlled peer-reviewed publications. It particularly focuses on the impact of intensity and duration of intervention on outcome.