Smoking Cessation Linked to Lower Long-Term Mortality
A LANDMARK 32.5-year follow-up of a smoking cessation intervention showed enduring reductions in respiratory mortality among U.S. adults who received targeted support to quit smoking.
Study Design and Objective
The Lung Health Study, conducted from 1986 to 1988, evaluated whether structured smoking cessation programs could reduce mortality over time. Researchers analyzed data from 5,279 participants across three groups: smoking intervention plus bronchodilator, smoking intervention plus placebo, and no intervention. The combined intervention arms were compared with usual care to determine differences in all-cause and cause-specific mortality after more than three decades of follow-up.
Long-Term Outcomes of Smoking Cessation
While all-cause mortality did not differ significantly between groups (HR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.97–1.18), the benefits of smoking cessation were evident in disease-specific outcomes. Participants who received the smoking cessation intervention were significantly less likely to die from non-lung cancer respiratory disease, with a 21% reduction in risk compared with the usual care group (HR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.04–1.42).
These findings demonstrate that the positive effects of quitting smoking extend well beyond immediate cardiovascular and cancer-related outcomes, offering long-term protection against chronic respiratory conditions.
Clinical Implications for Tobacco Control
For healthcare professionals, this trial underscores the sustained impact of smoking cessation programs in reducing respiratory-related deaths decades later. Even modest intervention programs can yield measurable mortality benefits over a lifetime, reinforcing the need for persistent public health investment in tobacco cessation support.
These long-term findings highlight the profound and lasting impact of smoking cessation on public health. Beyond reducing respiratory mortality, quitting smoking supports better cardiovascular function, immune response, and quality of life. Continuous physician engagement and accessible cessation programs remain critical to achieving sustained population-level health improvements across future generations.
Reference: Zhang J et al. The effects of a smoking cessation intervention on mortality after a 32.5-year follow-up period: a randomized clinical trial. Am J Epidemiol. 2025;kwaf240.
