Active and passive smoking behaviour and cessation plans of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Background: Smoking is a remarkable risk factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with negative effects on Crohn's disease (CD) and positive effects on ulcerative colitis (UC). This makes different changes in smoking behaviour after diagnosis between CD and UC likely. Changes in active smoking, cessation plans and passive smoking were studied in IBD patients.

Methods: 820 IBD patients were sent a questionnaire on active and passive smoking, and cessation plans. A total of 675 (82%) patients (380 CD and 295 UC) responded.

Results: More ever smoking UC patients stopped smoking before diagnosis than CD patients (63% vs 22%; p

Conclusion: There are no differences in changes in smoking behaviour at and after diagnosis between CD and UC patients, suggesting a lack of knowledge in these patients about the link between their disease and smoking behaviour. However, CD patients seem less refractory to smoking cessation than the general population. Therefore it is worthwhile putting energy in helping CD patients stop smoking. (C) 2009 European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.