Smoking Cessation Prescription Rates and Predictors of Cessation among Smokers with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

introduction: Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of developing diabetes-related complications; therefore, it is important to understand differences in cessation rates between smokers with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.  Due to the competing focuses of physicians during clinical visits, it is also important to understand differences in prescription rates of smoking cessation medication between smokers with and without diabetes.           

methods: Electronic medical records were used to identify patients who were current smokers in 2012. Chi square and binary logistic regression were then used to examine predictors of receiving smoking cessation prescriptions and smoking cessation between smokers with and without diabetes.

results: While smokers with diabetes were prescribed cessation medications at a higher rate than smokers without diabetes (44.8% vs 36.3%, p <0.001), cessation rates did not differ significantly between the groups nor was diabetes predictive of receiving smoking cessation prescriptions (OR 1.128; CI 95%, 0.915-1.390; p=.259).  Number of clinical visits was the main factor found to be predictive of prescriptions for cessation medications (OR 1.048; CI 95%, 1.036-1.06; p<.001) and for cessation attempts (OR 1.043; CI 95%, 1.026-1.061; p<.001).

conclusions: Despite increased rates of smoking cessation medication prescriptions, most individuals with diabetes did not quit smoking.  Number of clinical visits was the strongest predictor of both cessation medication prescriptions and cessation attempts.  Neither Type 2 diabetes nor smoking cessation prescriptions were predictive of smoking cessation.  Future research should continue to determine factors that facilitate cessation among individuals with diabetes to assist public health efforts in smoking cessation and diabetes management.