Abstract

Background: The Screening for Asymptomatic Coronary Heart disease in the Siblings of young Myocardial Infarction patients study (SACHSMI) investigated the association between index myocardial infarction patient sibling(s) and obstructive coronary heart disease as detected by coronary computer tomography angiography (CCTA). The results of SACHSMI described a statistically significant association between smoking and the prevalence of stenosis detected by CCTA. Data is lacking, however, regarding CCTA screening effects on smoking habits of young individuals.

Methods: Fifty asymptomatic siblings of prospectively identified index myocardial infarction patients, aged 55 years or younger, were screened. These 50 sibling participants were shown and explained their CCTA results. The participants were followed up on telephone calls at 1 and 12 months after screening to assess any change in their smoking habits. The primary outcome of interest was to identify any change in the smoking habit among the participants of the SACHSMI study undergoing CCTA 1 and 12 months post scanning.

Results: Of the 50 participants, 20 (40%) had a history of smoking. One month post CCTA, 12 (60%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 36% to 81%) participants either stopped smoking (7/20 (35%; 95% CI: 15% to 59%)) or reduced (5/20 (25%; 95% CI: 9% to 49%)) the number of cigarettes smoked daily. At 12 months post CCTA, 11 (55%; 95% CI: 32% to 77%) participants either stopped smoking (6/20 (30%; 95% CI: 12% to 54%)) or reduced (5/20 (25%; 95% CI: 9% to 49%)) the number of cigarettes smoked daily.

Conclusion: Screening individuals with a family history of premature CHD via CCTA may have the additional benefit of reducing smoking in the short term.

Keywords: Coronary heart disease, Coronary computer tomography angiography, Screening, Smoking, Cessation, Young adult.