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Doctors know smoking can increase the risk for
certain common inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD),
but many patients haven’t gotten the message, a new
study suggests.
Tobacco is one of the most significant risk factors
for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Previous research has linked smoking to an increased
risk of Crohn’s disease and its complications but
has also suggested that smokers are at lower risk
for ulcerative colitis, Ducharme-Benard and
colleagues note in the Journal of Clinical
Gastroenterology.
The main objective of this new study was to assess
the knowledge of patients with IBD regarding the
effects of tobacco on their disease. Secondary
objectives were to determine the source of their
knowledge, the influence of their knowledge on their
intent to quit smoking, and the association between
patients' characteristics and their knowledge.
In total 259 patients, 182 with Crohn's disease, 77
with ulcerative colitis (UC), participated.
The prevalence of current smokers, exsmokers, and
nonsmokers was 19.6%, 40.2%, and 40.2%,
respectively. Most patients in the study were white
and female, and they were typically in their 40s.
Compared to patients with ulcerative colitis,
patients with Crohn’s used more corticosteroids and
other medications to manage symptoms, and they had
more hospital admissions, surgeries, and time missed
from work as a result of their disease.
Patients with Crohn's disease were more aware of the
effects of tobacco on their disease compared with
those with UC (57.7% vs. 13.0%).
In informed patients, the main source of information
was the gastroenterologist (56.9%).
The intent to quit smoking was superior in informed
patients compared with those uninformed (78.6% vs.
47.8%).
Older patients and patients with UC were less likely
to be informed.
Only half of patients with IBD are aware of the
risks of smoking associated with their disease,
whereas their intent to quit smoking is directly
related to their awareness. In the scope of IBD's
treatment, management of smoking cessation should be
undertaken in all smokers.
For more information
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease are Unaware
of the Impact of Smoking on Their Disease
doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000386
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