The relation of tobacco use during hospitalization to post-discharge smoking cessation among US veterans.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine if tobacco use while in the hospital was associated with post-discharge cessation rates.

METHODS

During 2006-2008, smokers from three Veterans Affairs hospitals (n=354) were surveyed during their hospitalization and again 6 months later. Data analysis was conducted in 2009.

RESULTS

While veterans smoked an average of 19 cigarettes per day, prior to admission, the average was 6-7 cigarettes per day during hospitalization. About 40% (n=140) were able to quit smoking for more than 24 h and the median days quit was 29. The 6-month self-reported quit rate was 15% (n=53). Multivariate analyses showed that veterans who quit tobacco use during their hospitalization had nearly 4 times increased odds of quitting smoking for more than 24 h and 2.7 times increased odds of quitting at 6 months post-hospitalization as compared to veterans that did not quit using tobacco during hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Many veterans quit tobacco use during hospital admissions and those who do not quit, tended to decrease their use. Veterans who quit tobacco use were more likely to be abstinent at 6-month follow-up. State-of-the-art cessation interventions need to be provided to smokers hospitalized in Veterans Affairs hospitals.