The tobacco industry's past role in weight control related to smoking

Background: Smoking is thought to produce an appetite-suppressing effect by many smokers. Thus, the fear of body weight gain often outweighs the perception of health benefits associated with smoking cessation, particularly in adolescents. We examined whether the tobacco industry played a role in appetite and body weight control related to smoking and smoking cessation. Methods: We performed a systematic search within the archives of six major US and UK tobacco companies (American Tobacco, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, Lorillard, Brown & Williamson and British American Tobacco) that were Defendants in tobacco litigation settled in 1998. Findings are dated from 1949 to 1999. Results: The documents revealed the strategies planned and used by the industry to enhance effects of smoking on weight and appetite, mostly by chemical modifications of cigarettes contents. Appetite-suppressant molecules, such as tartaric acid and 2-acetylpyridine were added to some cigarettes. Conclusion: These tobacco companies played an active and not disclaimed role in the anti-appetite effects of smoking, at least in the past, by adding appetite-suppressant molecules into their cigarette

Arrêt du tabac et prise de poids : l’activité physique, un outil efficace ?

Le tabagisme est la première cause évitable de décès et de maladies en Suisse. La prise de poids représente l’un des principaux freins à l’arrêt du tabac et peut également être un facteur de rechute. Sur les 3 premiers mois de l’arrêt du tabac, la prise de poids peut être limitée par le bupropion, les substituts nicotiniques ou un régime avec restriction calorique. L’activité physique (AP), par le biais d’exercices d’endurance ou de renforcement, a un effet protecteur un an après l’arrêt. Un algorithme décisionnel est proposé afin d’aider les professionnel·les à accompagner les personnes arrêtant de fumer dans la mise en place de l’AP. La brochure « Je bouge contre le tabac ! » propose des exercices ludiques durant 30 jours pour faciliter la remise en mouvement

Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Smokers with Acute Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: An International Survey

INTRODUCTION Smoking prevalence is twice as high among patients admitted to hospital because of the acute condition of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) as in the general population. Smoking cessation may improve the prognosis of aSAH, but nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) administered at the time of aSAH remains controversial because of potential adverse effects such as cerebral vasospasm. We investigated the international practice of NRT use for aSAH among neurosurgeons. METHODS The online SurveyMonkey software was used to administer a 15-question, 5-min online questionnaire. An invitation link was sent to those 1425 of 1988 members of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) who agreed to participate in surveys to assess treatment strategies for withdrawal of tobacco smoking during aSAH. Factors contributing to physicians' posture towards NRT were assessed. RESULTS A total of 158 physicians from 50 nations participated in the survey (response rate 11.1%); 68.4% (108) were affiliated with university hospitals and 67.7% (107) practiced at high-volume neurovascular centers with at least 30 treated aSAH cases per year. Overall, 55.7% (88) of physicians offered NRT to smokers with aSAH, 22.1% (35) offered non-NRT support including non-nicotine medication and counselling, while the remaining 22.1% (35) did not actively support smoking cessation. When smoking was not possible, 42.4% (67) of physicians expected better clinical outcomes when prescribing NRT instead of nicotine deprivation, 36.1% (57) were uncertain, 13.9% (22) assumed unaffected outcomes, and 7.6% (12) assumed worse outcomes. Only 22.8% (36) physicians had access to a local smoking cessation team in their practice, of whom half expected better outcomes with NRT as compared to deprivation. CONCLUSIONS A small majority of the surveyed physicians of the EANS offered NRT to support smoking cessation in hospitalized patients with aSAH. However, less than half believed that NRT could positively impact clinical outcome as compared to deprivation. This survey demonstrated the lack of consensus regarding use of NRT for hospitalized smokers with aSAH

Efficacy of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation in populations with psychiatric and/or substance use problems: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION People with psychiatric and substance use disorders are more likely to smoke and less likely to quit than smokers in the general population. We evaluated the efficacy of e-cigarettes for abstinence from tobacco smoking in people with psychiatric and substance use problems. METHODS We analyzed data collected in the larger 'Efficacy, Safety, and Toxicology of ENDS as an Aid for Smoking Cessation' (ESTxENDS) trial (n=1246): the intervention group received e-cigarettes and e-liquids, plus standard-of-care smoking cessation counseling (SOC) for 6 months; the control group received SOC and a voucher. The primary outcome was biochemically validated continuous self-reported abstinence at 6 months; secondary outcomes included 6-month and 7-day self-reported abstinence. We calculated adjusted relative risks (ARR) for two subsamples meeting these conditions at the baseline visit: 1) psychotropic medication use; and 2) problematic substance or polysubstance use. RESULTS Among the participants using psychotropic medications (n=239), the ARR for validated abstinence was 2.62 (95% CI: 1.40-4.90) in the intervention group versus the control group, 2.95 (95% CI: 1.72-5.07) for 6-month and 2.96 (95% CI: 1.92-4.55) for 7-day self-reported abstinence, while among participants with problematic substance or polysubstance use (n=818), the ARR was 1.57 (95% CI: 1.20-2.04), 1.42 (95% CI: 1.15-1.74), and 1.53 (95% CI: 1.31-1.79), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Adding e-cigarettes to standard-of-care counseling increased the likelihood that participants with psychiatric and substance use problems would abstain from smoking, but larger studies should test the efficacy and safety of smoking cessation interventions in this often-marginalized population

Self-reported smoking cessation activities among Swiss primary care physicians

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Individual counselling, pharmacotherapy, and group therapy are evidence-based interventions that help patients stop smoking. Acupuncture, hypnosis, and relaxation have no demonstrated efficacy on smoking cessation, whereas self-help material may only have a small benefit. The purpose of this study is to assess physicians' current clinical practice regarding smokers motivated to stop smoking. METHODS: The survey included 3385 Swiss primary care physicians. Self-reported use of nine smoking cessation interventions was scored. One point was given for each positive answer about practicing interventions with demonstrated efficacy, i.e. nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, counselling, group therapy, and smoking cessation specialist. No points were given for the recommendation of acupuncture, hypnosis, relaxation, and self-help material. Multivariable logistic analysis was performed to identify factors associated with a good practice score, defined as >1. RESULTS: The response rate was 55%. Respondents were predominately over the age of 40 years (88%), male (79%), and resided in urban areas (74%). Seventeen percent reported being smokers. Most of the physicians prescribed nicotine replacement therapy (84%), bupropion (65%), or provided counselling (70%). A minority of physicians recommended acupuncture (26%), hypnosis (8%), relaxation (7%), or self-help material (24%). A good practice score was obtained by 85% of respondents. Having attended a smoking cessation training program was the only significant predictor of a good practice score (odds ratio: 6.24 , 95% CI 1.95-20.04). CONCLUSION: The majority of respondents practice recommended smoking cessation interventions. However, there is room for improvement and implementing an evidence-based smoking cessation-training program could provide additional benefit

Prévention en médecine de premier recours : établissement d'un protocole de prévention pour le dossier médical

La prévention est une activité reconnue efficace en médecine de premier recours ; elle regroupe les conseils, les dépistages ainsi que les vaccins et la chimioprophylaxie. Les buts de ce travail sont de faire une revue des différentes recommandations internationales en matière de prévention et d'établir un protocole adapté à l'usage des médecins praticiens en Suisse. Le protocole de prévention se présente sous la forme d'une grille que le médecin peut compléter lors des consultations. Il comporte principalement des interventions avec un degré de recommandation A ou B selon les groupes de travail américain ou canadien, à savoir des interventions pour lesquelles on dispose de preuves de qualité suffisante quant à leur efficacité. Ce travail reprend chaque intervention proposée dans le protocole en présentant l'épidémiologie, les méthodes de dépistage ou de conseil et leur efficacité ainsi que les différentes recommandations avec si possible des données suisses