No gender difference in effectiveness of smoking cessation treatment in a Brazilian real-life setting

BACKGROUND: The clinical effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in real-life settings has yet to be evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of bupropion in general clinical practice for smoking cessation and to identify predictors of failure. METHODS: In an open, non-randomised study, smokers were recruited at the Smoking Cessation Clinics, Hospital Sao Lucas, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Subjects participated in a motivational group meeting, completed a standardised questionnaire and Fagerstrom test, and had their vital signs and exhaled CO registered. All participants received a prescription of bupropion and the same cognitive behaviour therapy. They attended eight weekly individual sessions, then monthly until the sixth month and a final session at month 12. The primary outcome measure was the rate of abstinence at 12 months. The predictor factors studied were sex, age, educational level, nicotine dependence, previous attempts and comorbidities. RESULTS: Among 253 smokers (62.5% females), abstinence rates at 6 months were 20.8% for males and 22.7% for females. The success rates dropped to 13.9% and 14.3% for males and females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive therapy plus bupropion for smoking cessation in real-life clinics in Brazil were similar to the efficacy found in clinical trials. No significant gender differences in success rates were found.