Evaluation of the relationship between smoking behavior and the severity of coronary artery stenosis

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Smoking Behavior and the Severity of Coronary Artery Stenosis, Dr Abdürrahim BORAN, Thesis in Medicine, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Family of Medicine Department, March 2023 Objectives: Because smoking is an important risky factor in terms of coronary artery disease(CAD), it is aimed to analyze the correlation between smoking behaviour evaluated with smoking cessation success prediction scale (SCSPS) and nicotine addiction, and coronery artery stenosis with gensini score. Methods: In this cross-sectional prospective study, questionnaires which are prepared for patients who are implemented coronary angiography(CAG) in Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Hospital Cardiology Clinic in consequence of (CAD) are filled out, and relation between questionnaire results and Gensini scores of the patients are inspected. Results: Of 334 participants, 80 (%23,9) were women and 254 (%76,1) were men. Average age of the participants was 56,5 and age of participants varied from 23 to 85. The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) point average was counted as 4,55. According to the participants' FTND point, average nicotine addiction level was found out. The mean scores of the Smoking Cessation Success Prediction Scale were calculated as 38.6. Also Gensini score averages were indicated as 21,7. In the pairwise comparisons of the scores obtained from the questionnaires, a significant negative correlation was observed between the SBBÖÖ and FNBT, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between the gensini score and the SBBÖÖ score, and between the FNBT and gensini score. Conclusion: In the study, it is concluded that there is a positive correlation between FTND point and gensini score. It shows that the more individuals has nicotine addiction, the more severe they have CAD. In the study, it is found out that the more individuals has coronary artery stenosis severity as a result of high gensini score, the higher they get SCSPS points. This conclusion points out that patients that have more severe CAD tend to smoking cessation more. It is known that smoking is one of the most important changeable risk factors in CAD. This study is an example of that when patients get older and have more severe CAD, they tend to stop smoking. We think that personalized efforts for groups with low cessation success, such as young individuals or those with a low level of education, will increase the success of quitting. We recommend that smoking cessation counseling should be given to all smokers for both primary prevention in terms of public health and secondary prevention in CAD patients, and that educational studies addressing the entire public should be carried out without interruption. KEYWORDS: Atherosclerosis, Gensini Score, Coronary Artery Disease, Nicotine Addiction, Smoking, Smoking Cessation