A new study found that smokers who quit smoking once they reach 65 years of age could cut risks of heart diseases up to the risk level of never-smokers.
In previous studies, those former 32-pack smokers who quit when they are older could have a substantial risk of heart-related disease and reach the level of never-smokers only after 15 years.
With this new study, which was presented at the scientific meeting of the American Heart Association, “if you smoke less than 32 pack years, you might become like never-smokers much sooner than 15 years,” according to lead researcher and cardiovascular disease professor Dr. Ali Ahmed.
The measurement of pack years is computed as follows: multiply the quantity of cigarette sticks smoked daily with the number of years that the person smoked. A 32-pack year could equal 3.2 packs daily in 10 years or 2 packs daily in 16 years.
The researchers analyzed the data of 853 smokers who were also participants of the government-funded Cardiovascular Health Study in 1989. They compared the medical records of those who quit smoking 15 years or less with 2,557 never-smokers. Around 319 out of the smoke quitters had 32 pack years.
Their analysis revealed that most of the former smokers showed improved heart health including less risk of heart failure development and reduced risk of death caused by heart-related issues, which was at a level of risk the same with never-smokers.
Moreover, the improvement was remarkably shorter than expected, almost half than the previously set 15-year period.
Dr Ahmed said, "For half of them, it was eight years after cessation. Even for the heavier smokers, who smoked more than 32 pack years, compared to current smokers, they will significantly reduce the risk of total mortality by 35 percent (if they quit), so there's a positive message for everybody.”.
The findings also show that the people who only quit smoking when they reach 65 years old also gained advantages in heart health respects.
Although the heart-related improvements are certain, the researchers still maintain that any lung damage from smoking is not that easy to undo. The high risk of mortality from emphysema, lung cancer, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is still present, especially for those who had 32 pack years and stopped over 15 years ago.
