{
  "abstract": "Introduction Cytisine has been used as a smoking cessation medication for decades in Eastern countries. Its use has been extended in many European countries and now has a pending application in WHO to be used as a first line medication for smoking cessation.Aim To evaluate smoking abstinence results of Cytisine including smokers with comorbidities. Patients >65 years old were included, with exclusion of those with renal failure. Data are derived from the Outpatient Smoking Cessation Clinic of the Pulmonary Department of First Intensive Care Unit of ‘Evangelismos’ Hospital during the period September 2024-March 2025. Notably, 46.9% had previously attempted to quit unsuccessfully.Method 105 smokers participated. Demographic data, comorbidities, Fagerström Test and pulmonary function test were collected. Cytisine was provided free of charge at a daily dose of 9 mg until smoking cessation, typically between days 14 and 21 in highly dependent smokers with a smoking history more than 30 pack-year. Dose of 9 mg was maintained for one additional week, followed by a gradual tapering over a total treatment period of two months. Intensive behavioural support through five structured sessions was also provided.Results Mean age of patients was 53.1 ± 10.79 years (45.7% men). Regarding comorbidities, 22.5% had COPD, 11.1% asthma, 24.7% hypertension, 18.8% depression and 13.8% anxiety. 56% of smokers were highly addicted (Fagerström Test score>7) and 57% of them achieved smoking abstinence, whereas 62% of those (44%) with Fagerström Test score<7 quitted smoking (p value=0.7). Overall, 68% of participants achieved smoking cessation in three months. The majority (73.1%) were using traditional tobacco products. There were no statistically significant differences in demographics or pulmonary function tests between those who quit smoking and those who did not. No major adverse events were reported. Extended use of Cytisine was associated with increased smoking cessation rates.Conclusion Tailoring Cystisine dosage in highly addicted smokers with comorbidities that had previous failed, leaded to increased smoking cessation rates at three months. Reimbursement of smoking cessation drugs is contributing. There is urgent need for further larger studies with long-term follow up, in order to assess efficacy and smoking cessation rates achieved by Cytisine.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "V Petta"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "G Poupouzas"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "N Athanasiou"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "K Thomas"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "V Ntoumou"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "K Dede"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "A Korkontzelou"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Z Barbaressou"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "A Osarogue"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "First Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Services, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "T Georgiadis"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pulmonary Medicine Department, Evaggelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "P Katsaounou"
    }
  ],
  "title": "M8 Tailoring cystisine’s dosage in smokers with comorbidities and unsuccessful previous efforts",
  "uid": "e1d07077-987d-57f9-a26c-8df2700e18b4"
}