• J Taylor Hays, Ivana T Croghan, Christine L Baker, Joseph C Cappelleri, and Andrew G Bushmakin.
• Mayo Clinic, Mayo Nicotine Dependence Center, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. hays.taylor@mayo.edu
• Eur J Public Health. 2012 Apr 1; 22 (2): 224-9.

BackgroundCigarette smoking causes reduced health-related quality of life (QoL) and smoking abstinence improves health-related QoL. We assessed the effects of treatment for tobacco dependence on the health-related QoL in a 52-week randomized controlled trial of varenicline and bupropion sustained release (SR).MethodsSubjects who smoked ≥10 cigarettes per day for the past year were randomly assigned to receive varenicline 1 mg twice daily (n = 696), bupropion SR 150 mg twice daily (n = 671) or placebo (n = 685) for 12 weeks and followed post-therapy for an additional 40 weeks. Health-related QoL was assessed using the Smoking Cessation Quality of Life questionnaire at baseline and Weeks 12, 24 and 52.ResultsHealth transition (perceived health compared with baseline) and self-control were both significantly improved among subjects receiving varenicline and bupropion SR compared with placebo at Weeks 12, 24 and 52. Similarly, varenicline-treated subjects had significantly improved health transition and self-control compared with subjects who received bupropion SR at Weeks 12 and 24, and at Week 52 for health transition. A significant positive association existed between length of continuous abstinence and improved health transition, vitality, self-control, anxiety and overall mental profile. In most instances both a direct and an indirect effect (through continuous smoking abstinence) of each active treatment (vs. placebo) contributed to improved self-control and health transition.ConclusionTreatment with varenicline and bupropion SR for smoking cessation resulted in improved self-control and health transition that was mediated in large part by continuous smoking abstinence.

29 keywords...

hide…