Programa de cesación tabáquica para pacientes quirúrgicos: Nuestra experiencia en el Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba.

Introduction: Smoking increases morbidity and mortality. Helping smokers to quit can save lives and reduce health care costs. The objective of this study was to analyze the results of the implementation of a program for smoking cessation in hospitalized patients for surgery. Material and Methods: analytical cohort study at the Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba. The program consisted of counseling, post-discharge follow-up, and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Results: Forty-three active smokers aged 58.2 ± 13.6 years were included, with an average consumption of 34.9 ± 23.9 packets of cigarettes per year. Of those who agreed to start the protocol, 61.1% had an indication for NRT. 52.6% quit smoking at 6 months. No relationship was found between smoking cessation with a history of COPD (p = 0.8), necessary dose of NRT (p = 0.613), quantity of daily cigarettes consumed (p = 0.749), nor with time elapsed until the first morning cigarette (p = 0.523). Patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery presented a better response (85.7%) compared to the rest of patients (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Although adherence to the NRT at 3 months was very low, more than half of the total number of patients included in the program stop quit smoking. The program present a higher success In those patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]