Two out of three smokers are diagnosed with a stroke … doctors warn

Smoking blocks blood vessels and is one of the main causes of stroke and myocardial infarction. The risk of myocardial infarction increases after a stroke, and research has shown that simply quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of myocardial infarction after a stroke.

Professor Park Myeong-su, Department of Cardiology, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital Hallym University (corresponding author), Professor Cheon Dae-young (co-first author), Professor Han Seong-woo, Hallym University Dontan Sacred Heart Hospital Department of Neurology, Professor Lee Min-woo (corresponding author), Soongsil University Department of Information Statistics and Actuarial Science, Han Gyeong-do The research team of the high- professor (co-first author) in the study ‘Association between Changes in Smoking Practice and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study’

The research team used National Health Insurance Corporation medical data to examine 199,051 people aged 40 or older who were diagnosed with an ischemic stroke between January 2010 and December 2016. Among them, 35,054 (18%) were smokers before a stroke diagnosis, and two-thirds of them, or 22,549 people, continued to smoke even after a stroke diagnosis. Even 2%, or 3,914 people, started smoking again after finding out they had a stroke.

Of the 199,051 ischemic stroke patients, 5,734 (3%) suffered myocardial infarction after the diagnosis of stroke. An analysis of the risk of myocardial infarction after adjusting for variables such as age, physical activity, underlying diseases, drinking, and smoking history found that smoking significantly increases the risk of myocardial infarction after stroke. New smokers and current smokers had a 1.5 times higher risk of myocardial infarction compared to non-smokers. On the other hand, in those who only smoked in the past or who quit smoking after a stroke, the risk of myocardial infarction was 0.85 and 1.07, respectively, which was lower than those who did not smoke or were not significantly different.

Professor Park Myung-soo said, “Stroke and myocardial infarction are ischemic diseases caused by blood supply problems, so patients diagnosed with stroke take drugs such as antithrombotic agents, antihypertensive agents, and lipid-lowering agents to prevent myocardial infarction.” study, it has been shown that the risk of myocardial infarction after stroke can be significantly reduced through lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation.”

Professor Daeyoung Cheon said, “Many smokers continue to smoke even after having a stroke, but this study proved how important it is to stop smoking and that you should not use them to start smoking themselves “We need to give active warnings and advise people not to smoke,” he explained.

Professor Lee Min-woo said, “Recent research has shown that people who have had a stroke often fail to quit smoking or start smoking again while ‘ as they are depressed,” and he said, “Stroke patients with depressive symptoms need more active smoking cessation education and treatment.”, he emphasized.

This paper was published in the June issue of ‘Neuroepidemiology (Impact Factor: 3.2)’, an international journal at SCIE level.

Lee Mi-na, Hankyung.com reporter helper@hankyung.com