Clinical characteristics of smokers seen in a smoking cessation reference center

Abstract

Objective: To describe demographic and clinical features of smokers who had looked for care in asmoking cessation specialized center. Methods: It has been retrospectively analyzed the data from standardized clinical forms, completed in the moment of the first consultation of smokers from the OutpatientService of Support to Smokers of the "Centro de Saúde Escola da Faculdade de Medicina de RibeirãoPreto da Universidade de São Paulo", for a period of 18 months. Results: The outpatient clinic received186 new smokers (135 women), with a mean age of 50±12 years old, in this time. Most of the smokers(59%) came from other medical outpatient services, and smoking of industrialized cigarettes only wasreported by 96% of them. The beginning age of cigarettes regular consumption was 18±7 years. Previous frustrated smoking cessation experiences were reported by 83% of the smokers, and the meannumber of attempts was 3±2 years. Most of the subjects (66%) showed nicotine addiction of high andvery high degree. The mean score of the Fargeström nicotine dependence test, for the whole group, was6±2. Physical co-morbidities were reported by 62% and psychiatric ones by 24% of the subjects, particularly depression cases (17%). Conclusions: The present data is a starting point, regarding the needs tobe fulfilled by new smoking cessation services to be installed in medium size towns from Brazil andabroad.