The study, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that heavy ex-smokers may need more than 25 years for their remaining risk of cardiovascular disease to match that of non-smokers. The research aimed to determine how long a person needs to stop smoking to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

New Delhi: Smoking and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) The risk has a dose-dependent association, with former light smokers having a similar risk of cardiovascular disease to non-smokers relatively soon after quitting, a new study has found.

For former smokers, it may take more than 25 years for the residual risk of cardiovascular disease to align with that of nonsmokers, according to the study published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

The study aimed to find an answer to the question: how long should a person stop smoking to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)?

In the cohort study of data extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database with over 53 lakh participants, ex-smokers who had accumulated less than 8 pack-years (PY) did not have Significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to never-smokers.

However, for ex-smokers with at least 8 years of activity, it took more than 25 years for the residual risk of CVD to be reached. smoking disappear, the results showed.

The results suggest that ex-smokers of at least 8 years of age should be considered at equivalent cardiovascular disease risk to current smokers, and that management should be planned accordingly, the authors said.

The study assessed the associations between smoking cessation, lifetime smoking burden, and cardiovascular disease risk based on the number of years after smoking cessation.

“These results have important implications for clinical practice and public health. Regardless of smoking cessation status, smoking and cardiovascular disease risk exhibit a clear dose-response association, highlighting the importance of completely preventing tobacco initiation,” the authors said.

For people who start smoking, if their cumulative amount of smoking does not exceed a certain threshold or what is called the point of no return – 8 PY in this study – they can quit smoking with marked clinical improvements expected shortly after stopping.

Therefore, the results suggest that successful smoking cessation before reaching 8 years of age promises considerable public health benefits.