Success Rates of Pharmacological Therapies Used for Smoking Cessation and Factors that Affect Smoking Cessation Rates

Smoking is still the most important cause of preventable diseases and premature deaths. Thus, smoking cessation interventions should include pharmacological therapies and/or counseling either alone or in combination. To analyze the demographic data of patients who presented to the smoking cessation polyclinic and received pharmacological therapies and determine the success rate of given therapies, and the factors that affect smoking cessation rates retrospectively. This retrospective study included patients who presented to the smoking cessation polyclinic and received pharmacological therapy (varenicline, bupropion or nicotine replacement therapy). Demographic data of patients, exhaled carbonmonoxide levels, and Fagerstrom test for nicotine addiction results were derived. Patients were reached by telephone survey in February 2013, and asked for their current smoking status and duration of therapy at the end of therapy. Patients were grouped into quitters and non-quitters. Differences between groups were assessed, and success rates of pharmacological therapies were compared. The study included 240 women and 509 men. Fagerstrom test for nicotine addiction results and exhaled carbonmonoxide levels were statistically higher in the non-quitter group than the quitter group. We did not find any significant difference between the groups in variables such as profession, age, gender, marital status and education levels. Varenicline had the highest smoking cessation rates at the end of therapy, and the rates were significantly different from others. Smoking cessation rates for varenicline, bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy were 50.9%, 35.9%, and 35.2%, respectively (p<0,05). However, long-term success rates (3-12 months) were similar for all pharmacotherapies. Long-term success rates of pharmacological interventions used for smoking cessation were not significantly different among groups. To prevent relapses, patients should be monitorized closely and new interventions should be developed to keep patients' motivation high for long-term abstinence.