What are the recommendations for smoking cessation intervention for stroke patients?
For smokers with an AIS, who receive in-hospital initiation of high-intensity behavioral interventions to promote smoking cessation, nicotine replacement therapy is recommended. A 2012 meta-analysis by the Cochrane group indicates that high-intensity behavioral interventions that begin during an index hospitalization and include at least 1 month of supportive contact after discharge increased smoking cessation rates after discharge (RR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.27 1.48]; 25 trials). The estimate of the effect for each level of intervention intensity among patients with a cardiovascular diagnosis was very similar (RR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.29 1.56]).