Smoking and coronary heart disease mortality in the elderly

Abstract

Data from a longitudinal study of 2,674 persons aged 65 to 74 years were analyzed to ascertain whether cigarette smoking retained its adverse effect on survival in an elderly population. Current cigarette smokers had a risk of coronary heart disease death 52% higher than nonsmokers, exsmokers, or pipe and cigar smokers. The excess risk of mortality declined within one to five years after smoking cessation. Even elderly smokers should be encouraged to quit. (JAMA1984;252:2831-2834)