Cancer Patients Struggle to Quit: 44% Continue Smoking After Cancer Diagnosis

Samsung Medical Center Team Analyzes 46,834 Patients
Quitting Smoking Lowers Mortality Risk by 8% and Cardiovascular Disease by 36%

A recent analysis has found that 4 out of 10 cancer patients in Korea are unable to quit smoking even after being diagnosed with cancer. The study also showed that those who quit smoking after a cancer diagnosis had a 36% lower risk of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction compared to those who continued to smoke.

On September 4, the Quality of Life Center for Cancer Patients at the Samsung Medical Center Cancer Hospital (professors Shin Dongwook and Choi Hyerim of Family Medicine, Professor Kim Hongkwan of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, and Professor Kang Danbi of Clinical Epidemiology Research Center) announced these findings after analyzing 46,834 smokers at the time of their cancer diagnosis using National Health Insurance Service big data from 2015 to 2022.

The study found that 44.7% of patients continued smoking after their cancer diagnosis. Among them, 17,418 people (37.2%) continued to smoke conventional cigarettes, and 3,507 people (7.5%) switched to e-cigarettes. Of those who switched to e-cigarettes, 2,252 (64.2%) were dual users who continued to smoke conventional cigarettes alongside e-cigarettes. In contrast, 25,909 people (55.3%) quit smoking entirely after their cancer diagnosis.

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After adjusting for age, sex, income, cancer type, treatment method, smoking amount before diagnosis, and comorbidities over a median follow-up period of 4.2 years, the total risk of death was 8% lower in those who quit smoking compared to those who continued smoking conventional cigarettes. In addition, the risk of major cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, was 36% lower in the group that quit smoking.

The study also confirmed that for people who find it difficult to quit smoking completely after a cancer diagnosis, switching to e-cigarettes may serve as an alternative. Patients who switched to e-cigarettes had a 16% lower risk of death compared to those who continued to smoke conventional cigarettes. Their risk of experiencing major cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke was also 28% lower than the continued conventional cigarette group. However, the researchers emphasized that because a high proportion of those who switched to e-cigarettes were dual users and concerns about lung complications remain substantial, complete smoking cessation should remain the top priority.

The research team stated, “The core of cancer survivor management is complete smoking cessation,” but added, “For patients who cannot quit smoking immediately, switching to e-cigarettes can be cautiously considered as a second-best option.” These research results were published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.