A groundbreaking study has unveiled a stark reality: smokers and recent quitters are at a significantly higher risk of encountering complications following surgery compared to non-smokers. This alarming finding has sparked an urgent call for targeted smoking cessation initiatives for patients before elective surgical procedures.

The pan-European research, which surveyed 16,327 patients in 442 hospitals across 29 countries, found that a staggering 19.5% of those undergoing elective surgery are current smokers. The prevalence is even more concerning among younger individuals aged 18 to 40, with smoking rates soaring to 26.8%, and among men, where the rate reaches 22.1%. Additionally, healthy adults without chronic conditions are smoking at rates of 24.6%.

Published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe, the study highlights that those who smoke or have quit recently (within six weeks to a year prior to surgery) face greater risks of postoperative complications than their never-smoking counterparts. Lead researcher Dr. Sivesh Kamarajah from the University of Birmingham stressed the importance of addressing these statistics.

"These findings expose a significant challenge: high levels of smoking among surgical patients, particularly the younger and healthier groups. The implications for the National Health Service (NHS) are huge, as these smokers are more likely to require additional recovery time in the hospital due to complications. This represents a unique chance for healthcare providers to implement effective smoking cessation strategies that can enhance surgical outcomes and improve long-term health,