Assessing Smoking Cessation Strategies in Thyroid Eye Disease: Verbal Counseling and Varenicline
Author: Nasser Karimi
Base Hospital / Institution: Rassoul Akram Hospital / Iran University of Medical Sciences
ePoster presentation
Abstract ID: 24-340
Purpose
To evaluate the effectiveness of verbal counseling and Varenicline in promoting smoking cessation among patients with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED).
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Iran Thyroid Eye Disease Registry (https://orc.iums.ac.ir), including patients presenting at Rassoul Akram Hospital’s oculoplastic clinic in Tehran, Iran, from March 2020 to March 2023. Demographics, severity, and activity of TED were analyzed. The association between smoking and disease severity/activity was assessed. The efficacy of verbal counseling was evaluated through a telephone survey. Patients who failed or refused to quit smoking after counseling were offered Varenicline. Acceptance, compliance, and adherence rates were determined.
Results
The database included 685 patients (66.56% female), with a mean age of 34.68 years (SD: 13.95). While 379 patients (55.32%) reported no tobacco exposure, the remaining were classified as active (N=117, 17.08%), passive (N=134, 19.56%), or past smokers (N=55, 8.02%). Active smokers had 8.10 times higher odds of sight-threatening TED than non-smokers (P < 0.01). Among 51/117 (43.58%) active smokers contacted, 25/51 (49.01%) reported successful smoking cessation after verbal counseling. The remaining 26/51 smokers were offered Varenicline; however, only 7/26 (26.92%) accepted the treatment. Of these, 3/7 (42.85%) completed the first month, with 1/3 (33.33%) successfully finishing the 3-month course. One patient (14.28%) reported constipation as an adverse event.
Conclusion
Verbal counseling shows promise in promoting smoking cessation for TED patients, while Varenicline use requires additional strategies to improve motivation and compliance.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Ali | Keyhani | Rassoul Akram Hospital / Iran University of Medical Sciences |
| Shadi | Akbarian | Rassoul Akram Hospital / Iran University of Medical Sciences |
| Mohsen | Kashkouli | Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine |
