Thirty years after quitting, former smokers avoided nearly all excess cardiovascular-, cancer- and respiratory-related deaths. 

Smoking cessation results in lower risk for early death compared with continued smoking. However, the timeframe during which this benefit accrues is unclear. Researchers analysed nationally representative data on 440,000 adults (mean age, 47 years) from the US National Health Interview Survey and National Death Index and determined the association between years since quitting and death.

During a mean 11 years of follow up, current smokers’ risks for cardiovascular-, cancer- and respiratory-related deaths were two, three and 13 times higher, respectively, than never smokers’ risks. Former smokers who had quit less than 10 years before enrolment avoided roughly 50 to 60% of these excess risks. By 30 years after quitting, excess mortality was virtually eliminated. 

Comment: This study shows that smoking cessation’s effects on cardiovascular, cancer and respiratory mortality are large and accrue over time: After 30 years of sustained cessation, former smokers have death rates for these causes that are comparable to those in never smokers. These findings should be helpful when counselling former smokers who are concerned about lingering adverse effects of prior smoking.

Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP, Regional Vice President – Southwest Wisconsin, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse; Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, USA.

Thomson B, Islami F. Association of smoking cessation and cardiovascular, cancer, and respiratory mortality. JAMA Intern Med 2024; 184: 110-112.

This summary is taken from the following Journal Watch titles: General Medicine, Ambulatory Medicine, Hospital Medicine.