Factors influencing smoking cessation in patients with coronary artery disease.

The purpose of this paper is to review the sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics suggested as being predictors of difficulty with smoking cessation in patients with coronary artery disease. These characteristics include age, gender, socioeconomic status, social support, intensity of smoking, severity of coronary artery disease, anxiety, depression, hostility/anger/aggression, and health locus of control. In addition, nicotine addiction is discussed as a factor which may further compound this problem. Consideration of these factors in relation to the patient with coronary artery disease may assist in the delivery of an optimal and individualized intervention program to facilitate sustained smoking cessation. A brief overview of intervention strategies is provided.