Prevalence and Trends in Smoking Among Surgical Patients in Michigan
Howard R, et al. Prevalence and Trends in Smoking Among Surgical Patients in Michigan, 2012-2019. JAMA Netw Open. 3 Mar 2021; 4(3):e210553 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2776945
“In a cross-sectional study of 328 578 patients undergoing general and vascular surgical procedures from 2012 to 2019 in Michigan, nearly 1 in 4 patients smoked cigarettes at the time of surgery. These findings indicate that smoking cessation interventions may be particularly important for patients undergoing surgery, especially for patients who lack health insurance or have Medicaid.”
Comment: Surgery presents a “teachable moment” when patients can be urged to quit smoking both for better healing after surgery and as a commitment to healthful living with lower costs for healthcare.
Stephen Hamann
