Crohn's disease and smoking: Is it ever too late to quit?

Abstract

Background: Smoking increases CD risk. The aim was to determine if smoking cessation at, prior to, or following, CD diagnosis affects medication use, disease phenotypic progression and/or surgery. Methods: Data on CD patients with disease for ≥. 5. yrs were collected retrospectively including the Montreal classification, smoking history, CD-related abdominal surgeries, family history, medication use and disease behaviour at diagnosis and the time when the disease behaviour changed. Results: 1115 patients were included across six sites (mean follow-up-16.6. yrs). More non-smokers were male (p. = 0.047) with A1 (p. . 3. cigarettes/day had an increased risk of developing B2/B3 disease (p. = 0.012: OR 3.8 95%CI 1.27-11.17). Conclusion: Progression to B2/B3 disease and surgery is reduced by smoking cessation. All CD patients regardless of when they were diagnosed, or how many surgeries, should be strongly encouraged to cease smoking. © 2013 European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation.