Abstract
Abstract
[Background] In May 1999, the nicotine patch first became commercially available in Japan as an agent to promote smoking cessation, for which health insurance was not applicable. In June 2006, the partial application of health insurance was approved only for patients with nicotine dependency. Thus, this patch has been employed in an increasing number of nicotine-dependent patients who have tried to stop smoking. In this study, we investigated the short-and long-term success rates (1-year smoking cessation rate) of treatment with this nicotine patch and factors influencing these rates to establish future treatment based on our results. [Methods] The subjects were 105 patients in whom a nicotine -dependency management fee was calculated in our clinic between June 2006 and May 2007. Examination items included the short-term and 1-year smoking cessation, rates, as well as the influence of factors such as the patient background and the state of smoking on the smoking cessation rate. [Results] In 89 patients, smoking cessation continued after the end of treatment, and the short-term smoking cessation rate was 84.8%. We investigated factors influencing successful smoking cessation in. individual patients via logisti regression analysis. The smoking cessation rate decreased with an increase in the TDS score (odds ratio: 0.70, 95% confidence interval: 2.18-8.22) In 61 patients in whom the interval from the start of treatment was 1 year, the continuation of smoking cessation was confirmed in 49 patients after 1 year of treatment, and 1-year smoking cessation rata was 80.3%. We similarly examined each factor, and the 1-year smoking cessation rate was significantly lower in females (odds ratio: 34.69, 95% confidence interval: 1.23-971.57). Furthermore, the smoking cessation rates in groups showing a high TDS score and with an underlying disease were slightly lower. [Conclusion] Male gender favorably influenced the 1-year smoking cessation rate. On short-term examination, gender was not a significant factor, suggesting that it does not influence the short-term smoking cessation rate, whereas it is difficult for females to maintain smoking cessation. In groups showing a high TDS score and with severe nicotine dependency, the 1-year smoking cessation rates were lower, as previously reported.
