Age at Quitting Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Mannan Haider R, Stevenson Christopher E, Peeters Anna, Walls Helen L, McNeil John J
Primary Institution: Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Hypothesis
Does the age at which a person quits smoking predict the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) independently of smoking status, time since quitting, and pack-years?
Conclusion
Quitting smoking at a younger age improves the prediction of cardiovascular disease risk, even when considering other smoking-related factors.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants who quit smoking before age 37 had a similar risk of CVD as never smokers.
- Those who quit smoking after age 44 had a significantly higher risk of CVD.
- Incorporating age at quitting into risk models improved predictive ability.
Takeaway
If you stop smoking at a younger age, you're less likely to get heart disease compared to if you quit later.
Methodology
The study used the Cox proportional hazards model to analyze data from the Framingham Offspring Heart Study.
Potential Biases
Potential confounding factors related to medical treatments affecting CVD risk were considered.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable to other ethnic groups due to the predominance of white participants.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 3751 participants aged 30-74, with 51.6% females and a mean age of 51.61 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0032
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.804 ~ 1.433
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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