Knowledge and perceptions regarding pulmonary rehabilitation amongst Ecuadorian physicians following COVID-19 outbreak.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation is already an established technique for patients with chronic respiratory disease, aimed at improving breathlessness, exercise capacity, health status, and well-being. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and perceptions about pulmonary rehabilitation post-COVID-19 infection among Ecuadorian physicians. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey-based study using a 27-item questionnaire to assess the knowledge about specific topics related to pulmonary rehabilitation. The sample comprised Ecuadorian physicians who were currently enrolled to an active medical practice that included care to COVID-19 patients. Descriptive statistics were applied for demographic variables of interest. A chi-square goodness of fit test was used to determine whether the observed frequencies of each of the answers per query were within or outside of the expected frequencies by chance. Results: In total, 295 participants answered the survey, out of which 57.3% were general practitioners. Most agreed that COVID-19 infected patients must be followed-up with some measurement of respiratory function (81.4%, p=0.000), but only 18.3% (n=54, p=0.000) were aware of specific guidelines related to rehabilitation. 93.6% (n=276, p=0.000) considered that pulmonary rehabilitation provides a benefit, of any kind, to patients with past COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: Most physicians considered pulmonary rehabilitation beneficial following COVID-19. However, there is uncertainty on how to adequately follow up patients, complementary tests, and specific guidelines outlining rehabilitative interventions.

Residual pulmonary infiltrates, symptoms and diffusion impairment at 1-year after severe COVID-19 infection have different associated factors.

INTRODUCTION: After severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia, patients may show lung sequelae on radiology and functional impairment at the 1-year follow-up. We aimed to describe the persistence of symptoms, radiological alterations, or reduced diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO ) at 1-year follow-up in patients from the Spanish Registry RECOVID. METHODS: RECOVID collected symptom and radiological and functional lung tests data on hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 during the acute phase and at the 6- and 12-month follow-up visits. RESULTS: Of the 2500 enrolled survivors (90% admitted to the ward), 1874 had follow-up visits for up to a year. Of these, 42% continued to present with symptoms, 27% had radiological sequelae and 31% had reduced DLCO . Independently associated factors included female sex, asthma and the requirement for invasive or non-invasive mechanical ventilation. Complete radiological resolution was 72.2% at 12 months; associated factors with incomplete recovery were age, male sex, oxygen or respiratory support, corticosteroids and an initial SpO2 /FiO2 <450 or CURB-65 ≥2. Reduced DLCO was observed in 31% of patients at 12 months; associated factors were older age, female sex, smoking habit, SpO2 /FiO2 <450 and CURB-65 ≥2 and the requirement of respiratory support.At 12 months, a proportion of the asymptomatic patients showed reduced DLCO (9.5%), radiological findings (25%) or both (11%). CONCLUSIONS: The factors associated with symptom persistence, incomplete radiological resolution and DLCO <80% differed according to age, sex, comorbidities and respiratory support. The burden of symptoms, reduced DLCO and incomplete radiological resolution were considerable in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia at the 1-year follow-up after hospitalisation.

Impact of high-flow oxygen therapy during exercise in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a pilot crossover clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Supplemental oxygen delivered with standard oxygen therapy (SOT) improves exercise capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Although high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) improves oxygenation in other respiratory diseases, its impact on exercise performance has never been evaluated in IPF patients. We hypothesized that HFNC may improve exercise capacity in IPF subjects compared to SOT. METHODS: This was a prospective, crossover, pilot randomized trial that compared both oxygenation methods during a constant submaximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in IPF patients with exertional oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤ 85% in the 6-min walking test. The primary outcome was endurance time (Tlim). Secondary outcomes were muscle oxygen saturation (StO2) and respiratory and leg symptoms. RESULTS: Ten IPF patients [71.7 (6) years old, 90% males] were included. FVC and DLCO were 58 ± 11% and 31 ± 13% pred. respectively. Tlim during CPET was significantly greater using HFNC compared to SOT [494 ± 173 vs. 381 ± 137 s, p = 0.01]. HFNC also associated with a higher increase in inspiratory capacity (IC) [19.4 ± 14.2 vs. 7.1 ± 8.9%, respectively; p = 0.04], and a similar trend was observed in StO2 during exercise. No differences were found in respiratory or leg symptoms between the two oxygen devices. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study demonstrating that HFNC oxygen therapy improves exercise tolerance better than SOT in IPF patients with exertional desaturation. This might be explained by changes in ventilatory mechanics and muscle oxygenation. Further and larger studies are needed to confirm the benefits of HFNC in IPF patients and its potential usefulness in rehabilitation programs.

Telerehabilitation Programme as a Maintenance Strategy for COPD Patients: A 12-Month Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: There is uncertainty regarding efficacy of telehealth-based approaches in COPD patients for sustaining benefits achieved with intensive pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). RESEARCH QUESTION: To determine whether a maintenance pulmonary telerehabilitation (TelePR) programme, after intensive initial PR, is superior to usual care in sustaining over time benefits achieved by intensive PR. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A multicentre open-label pragmatic parallel-group randomized clinical trial was conducted. Two groups were created at completion of an 8-week intensive outpatient hospital PR programme. Intervention group (IG) patients were given appropriate training equipment and instructed to perform three weekly training sessions and send performance data through an app to a web-based platform. Patients in the control group (CG) were advised to exercise regularly (usual care). RESULTS: Ninety-four patients (46 IG, 48 CG) were randomized. The analysis of covariance showed non-significant improvements in 6-min walk distance [19.9m (95% CI -4.1/+43.8)] and Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire - Emotion score [0.4 points (0-0.8)] in the IG. Secondary linear mixed models showed improvements in the IG in Short Form-36 mental component summary [9.7, (4.0-15.4)] and Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire - Emotion [0.5, (0.2-0.9)] scores, but there was no association between compliance and outcomes. Acute exacerbations were associated with a marginally significant decrease in 6-minute walk distance of 15.8m (-32.3/0.8) in linear models. CONCLUSIONS: The TelePR maintenance strategy was both feasible and safe but failed to show superiority over usual care, despite improvements in some HRQoL domains. Acute exacerbations may have an important negative influence on long-term physical function. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT03247933.

Benefits of Long-Term Pulmonary Rehabilitation Maintenance Program in Patients with Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Three-Year Follow-up.

RATIONALE: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) tend to wane over time. Whether maintenance techniques may help sustain the benefits achieved after completion of the initial PR program remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a long-term (3-yr) maintenance program after PR preserves the short-term effects on outcomes in patients with COPD. METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective randomized trial including 143 patients with moderate-severe COPD, with 3 years of PR maintenance following an 8-week outpatient PR program. Patients were randomized to maintenance intervention group (IG) and standard monitoring program or control group (CG). The effects on BODE index, 6-minute-walk test distance (6MWD), and health-related quality of life were compared at 12, 24, and 36 months. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 138 (96.5%) completed the 8-week program. At this time, all outcomes (BODE, 6MWD, and health-related quality of life) showed clinically and statistically significant improvements (P ≤ 0.001). During the follow-up period, the magnitude of change in 6MWD differed between IG and CG (P = 0.042), with a slight initial increase in the IG during the first year and smaller decline afterward. The BODE index changes differed between baseline and measurements at Month 24 (P = 0.043). At 3 years, the adherence rate of IG patients was 66% and 17% for the CG group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a 2-year beneficial effect of a program of rehabilitation maintenance on the BODE index and 6MWD when compared with a standard strategy. This effect vanishes after the second year of follow-up. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01090999).

The role of daily physical activity and nutritional status on bone turnover in cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional status and daily physical activity (PA) may be an excellent tool for the maintenance of bone health in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between nutritional status, daily physical activity and bone turnover in cystic fibrosis patients. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of adolescent and adult patients diagnosed with clinically stable cystic fibrosis was conducted. Total body, femoral neck, and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and bone metabolism markers ALP, P1NP, PICP, and ß-CrossLaps. PA monitoring was assessed for 5 consecutive days using a portable device. Exercise capacity was also determined. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin K were also determined in all participants. RESULTS: Fifty patients (median age: 24.4 years; range: 16-46) were included. BMI had positive correlation with all BMD parameters, with Spearman's coefficients ranging from 0.31 to 0.47. Total hip bone mineral density and femoral neck BMD had positive correlation with the daily time spent on moderate PA (>4.8 metabolic equivalent-minutes/day; r=0.74, p<0.001 and r=0.72 p<0.001 respectively), daily time spent on vigorous PA (>7.2 metabolic equivalent-minutes/day; r=0.45 p<0.001), body mass index (r=0.44, p=0.001), and muscle mass in limbs (r=0.41, p=0.004). Levels of carboxy-terminal propeptide of type 1 collagen were positively associated with the daily time spent on moderate (r=0.33 p=0.023) and vigorous PA (r=0.53, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: BMI and the daily time spent on moderate PA were found to be correlated with femoral neck BMD in CF patients. The association between daily PA and biochemical markers of bone formation suggests that the level of daily PA may be linked to bone health in this patient group. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

The role of daily physical activity and nutritional status on bone turnover in cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background Nutritional status and daily physical activity (PA) may be an excellent tool for the maintenance of bone health in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Objective To evaluate the relationship between nutritional status, daily physical activity and bone turnover in cystic fibrosis patients. Method A cross-sectional study of adolescent and adult patients diagnosed with clinically stable cystic fibrosis was conducted. Total body, femoral neck, and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and bone metabolism markers ALP, P1NP, PICP, and ß-CrossLaps. PA monitoring was assessed for 5 consecutive days using a portable device. Exercise capacity was also determined. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin K were also determined in all participants. Results Fifty patients (median age: 24.4 years; range: 16-46) were included. BMI had positive correlation with all BMD parameters, with Spearman’s coefficients ranging from 0.31 to 0.47. Total hip bone mineral density and femoral neck BMD had positive correlation with the daily time spent on moderate PA (>4.8 metabolic equivalent-minutes/day; r=0.74, p<0.001 and r=0.72 p<0.001 respectively), daily time spent on vigorous PA (>7.2 metabolic equivalent-minutes/day; r=0.45 p<0.001), body mass index (r=0.44, p=0.001), and muscle mass in limbs (r=0.41, p=0.004). Levels of carboxy-terminal propeptide of type 1 collagen were positively associated with the daily time spent on moderate (r=0.33 p=0.023) and vigorous PA (r=0.53, p<0.001). Conclusions BMI and the daily time spent on moderate PA were found to be correlated with femoral neck BMD in CF patients. The association between daily PA and biochemical markers of bone formation suggests that the level of daily PA may be linked to bone health in this patient group. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of muscle dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), skeletal muscle dysfunction is a major comorbidity that negatively impacts their exercise capacity and quality of life. In the current guidelines, the most recent literature on the various aspects of COPD muscle dysfunction has been included. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) scale has been used to make evidence-based recommendations on the different features. Compared to a control population, one third of COPD patients exhibited a 25% decline in quadriceps muscle strength, even at early stages of their disease. Although both respiratory and limb muscles are altered, the latter are usually more severely affected. Numerous factors and biological mechanisms are involved in the etiology of COPD muscle dysfunction. Several tests are proposed in order to diagnose and evaluate the degree of muscle dysfunction of both respiratory and limb muscles (peripheral), as well as to identify the patients' exercise capacity (six-minute walking test and cycloergometry). Currently available therapeutic strategies including the different training modalities and pharmacological and nutritional support are also described.

Pulmonary rehabilitation. Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR).

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been shown to improve dyspnea, exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). PR has also shown benefits in diseases other than COPD but the level of evidence is lower. The fundamental components of PR programs are muscle training, education and chest physiotherapy. Occupational therapy, psychosocial support and nutritional intervention should also be considered. Home programs have been shown to be as effective as hospital therapy. The duration of rehabilitation programs should not be less than 8 weeks or 20 sessions. Early initiation of PR, even during exacerbations, has proven safe and effective. The use of oxygen or noninvasive ventilation during training is controversial and dependent on the patient's situation. At present, the best strategy for maintaining the benefits of PR in the long term is unknown. Longer PR programs or telemedicine could play a key role in extending the results obtained.

Exercise training in patients with chronic respiratory failure due to kyphoscoliosis: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Research has provided evidence for the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of exercise training in patients with COPD. However, little is known about the impact of exercise training in patients with chronic respiratory failure due to kyphoscoliosis. We evaluated the effect of an exercise training program on exercise capacity, muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality-of-life indices in subjects with chronic respiratory failure due to kyphoscoliosis. METHODS: The 34 subjects were clinically stable, had been receiving nighttime home mechanical ventilation for ≥ 6 months, and were randomly assigned to the exercise group (n = 17) or the control group (n = 17). The exercise group conducted cycle and strength training on 3 non-consecutive days per week for 12 weeks. We measured pulmonary function, exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea scores, and quality of life. RESULTS: Statistical analysis was carried out on the data from 16 subjects in the exercise group and in 11 subjects in the control group. Three of the lung-function parameters in the exercise group significantly changed: PaCO2 (P = .04), inspiratory pressure (P = .03), and expiratory pressure (P = .04); and endurance time (P = .002) and shuttle walk distance (P = .001) increased significantly. The exercise group had significantly greater improvements in peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic respiratory failure due to kyphoscoliosis, exercise training improved exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality of life. (Deutschen Register Klinischer Studien DRKS00000443).

Impact of bronchodilator responsiveness on quality of life and exercise capacity in patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial variability in COPD patients may be a phenotypic feature associated with clinical characteristics and differential treatment response. We analyzed whether symptoms, quality of life, and exercise capacity varied in COPD patients as a function of bronchodilator test results, and compared responses to an exercise program. METHODS: A positive bronchodilator test result was defined as FVC and/or FEV1 improvement of > 12% plus > 200 mL after 400 µg of salbutamol. We studied 198 COPD subjects: 94 with positive reversibility, and 104 with negative reversibility. Training sessions were carried out on 3 non-consecutive days each week, for 12 weeks, and consisted of a combination of resistance and strength training. Subjects were evaluated on 2 consecutive days at baseline, and at the end of the 12-week training program. RESULTS: Those with positive reversibility had shorter time to exhaustion in the endurance test (19.1 ± 12.6 min vs 24.5 ± 14.5 min, P = .03), shorter shuttle walk test distance (380.6 ± 158.2 m vs 438.5 ± 149.1 m, P = .02), and lower Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire scores (18.7 ± 4.6 vs 19.8 ± 4.3, P = .01). There were no significant differences in peak exercise, peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea, or improvement after exercise training. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to COPD subjects with negative reversibility, those with positive reversibility walked for shorter distances, and had shorter endurance times and worse quality of life, but the improvements after exercise training were similar.

Standards for quality care in respiratory rehabilitation in patients with chronic pulmonary disease. Quality Healthcare Committee. Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR).

Respiratory rehabilitation (RR) has been shown to be effective with a high level of evidence in terms of improving symptoms, exertion capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with COPD and in some patients with diseases other than COPD. According to international guidelines, RR is basically indicated in all patients with chronic respiratory symptoms, and the type of program offered depends on the symptoms themselves. As requested by the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), we have created this document with the aim to unify the criteria for quality care in RR. The document is organized into sections: indications for RR, evaluation of candidates, program components, characteristics of RR programs and the role of the administration in the implementation of RR. In each section, we have distinguished 5 large disease groups: COPD, chronic respiratory diseases other than COPD with limiting dyspnea, hypersecretory diseases, neuromuscular diseases with respiratory symptoms and patients who are candidates for thoracic surgery for lung resection.

Determination of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with COPD: a comparison of different assays.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory pulmonary disorder with systemic inflammatory manifestations that are mediated by circulating acute-phase reactants. This study compared an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to a nephelometric technique for the measurement of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) and investigated how the choice of assay influenced the estimation of inflammation in patients with stable COPD. METHODS: CRP and SAA concentrations measured by ELISA and nephelometry in 88 patients with COPD and 45 control subjects were used to evaluate the performance of these methods in a clinical setting. RESULTS: With both assays, the concentrations of CRP and SAA were higher in COPD patients than in controls after adjustment for age and sex. There was a moderate correlation between the values measured by ELISA and those measured by nephelometry (logCRP: r = 0.55, p < 0.001; logSAA: r = 0.40, p < 0.001). However, the concentrations of biomarkers determined by nephelometry were significantly higher than those obtained with ELISA for CRP (mean difference = 2.7 (9.4) mg/L) and SAA (mean difference = 0.31 (14.3) mg/L). CONCLUSION: Although the serum CRP and SAA concentrations measured by ELISA and nephelometry correlated well in COPD patients, the ELISA values tended to be lower for CRP and SAA when compared with nephelometric measurements. International standardization of commercial kits is required before the predictive validity of inflammatory markers for patients with COPD can be effectively assessed in clinical practice.

Cyclooxygenase-2 -765G>C polymorphism is associated with C-reactive protein levels in resistant smokers but not in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

We sought to investigate whether the serum concentrations of several inflammatory biomarkers are related to the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) -765G>C polymorphism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a control group of non-COPD smokers. Serum inflammatory markers (CRP, SAA, CXCL8, and sICAM-1) were measured by ELISA in 144 patients with COPD and in 55 control subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and the COX2 -765G>C (rs20417) polymorphism was genotyped. After adjustment for age and active smoking, CRP and SAA concentrations were associated with the COX2 polymorphism in controls (p=0.041 and 0.014, respectively) but not in COPD patients. The CXCL8 and sICAM-1 concentrations were not associated with the COX2 polymorphism for either cases or controls. The results of the present study indicate that there is a relationship between the COX2 -765G>C polymorphism and the concentrations of CRP and SAA in non-COPD smokers and that this relationship does not exist in COPD patients.

Overexpression of Aquaporin-1 in lung adenocarcinomas and pleural mesotheliomas.

Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is the main water channel responsible for water transport through many epithelia and endothelia. The latest evidence pointed toward an important role of this protein also in gas permeation, angiogenesis, cell proliferation and migration. In the present work we studied the expression of AQP1 by immunohistochemical staining of 92 lung biopsies from patients diagnosed with a pleuro-pulmonary tumor (71 lung and 21 pleural neoplasms). AQP1 expression was analyzed comparing the results among the different histological patterns and against 9 control cases (5 parenchyma and 4 healthy pleura). Clear staining of AQP1 was detected in 39 of the 92 tumors analyzed. In parenchyma, AQP1 was more frequently detected in primary lung adenocarcinomas (55%, P<0.001); in contrast, small cell carcinomas were the least AQP1 expressive tumors studied (93% of negative staining, P<0.05). Carcinomas analyzed in pleura (mesotheliomas and metastatic adenocarcinomas) also revealed strong expression of AQP1. High expression of this protein was detected in small capillaries in areas near or surrounding the tumor, and novel intense AQP1 immunostaining was detected over thicker alveolar walls in alveoli inside or next to the tumoral tissue regardless of the tumor type. An important role of AQP1 in tumor angiogenesis is sustained by the abundant expression of this protein in the endothelia of tumor capillaries. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the potential pathophysiological role of this protein in pleuro-pulmonary neoplasms.

Bone health, daily physical activity, and exercise tolerance in patients with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Daily physical activity (PA) may be an excellent tool for the maintenance of bone health in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of this study was to analyze the possible association between physical capacity and activity and bone mineral density (BMD) in young adults with CF. A secondary goal was to evaluate vertebral fractures in this population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 50 patients with CF who were clinically stable and aged > 16 years but not lung transplant recipients. PA was quantified with a portable motion monitor (BodyMedia Fit Armband). Cardiopulmonary exercise and 6-min walk tests were used to assess exercise capacity. BMD was obtained from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar column, hip, and whole body. To analyze vertebral fractures and deformity, we performed the Genant and Cobb methods. RESULTS: Daily PA time at low (3-4.8 metabolic equivalent tasks [METs]) and moderate (4.8-7.2 METs) intensity, respectively, was correlated with Z score (BMD) of the lumbar column (r = 0.36, P < .01 and r = 0.59, P < .001), the neck of femur (r = 0.51, P < .001 and r = 0.72, P < .001), and the total hip (r = 0.54, P < .001 and r = 0.74, P < .001). PA, BMI, age, and sex were predictors of BMD. Vertebral fractures correlated with kyphosis (r = 0.42, P = .02), but not with BMD. Patients who were mildly and severely affected differed in vertebral fracture rate and kyphosis prevalence (P = .002 and P = .013, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The most active patients with better exercise capacity had higher BMD. Those with more affected pulmonary function had a greater prevalence of vertebral fractures and dorsal kyphosis.

Effectiveness of a cognitive orientation program with and without nicotine replacement therapy in stopping smoking in hospitalised patients.

INTRODUCTION: We analysed the effectiveness of a high intensity behavioural-cognitive intervention compared to minimal intervention started during a hospital stay, to see if the combination of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can increase the quitting rate at 12 months of follow up. METHOD: A total of 2560 active smokers were studied during their hospital stay. Of these, 717 smokers refused to enter the study and after a minimal intervention they were asked if we could telephone them after one year to ask if they still smoked. The remaining 1843 smokers who received high intensity cognitive therapy were randomised to receive or not receive NRT. The follow up after discharge was carried out by outpatient visits or with telephone sessions. RESULTS: At one year of follow up, 7% of those who declined to enter the study had stopped smoking compared to 27% of those who entered the study (p<0.001). There were significant differences between the group that only had behavioural therapy (21% stopped) compared to the group that also had NRT (33% stopped; p=0.002). In this latter group there were significant differences (p=0.03) between those who had follow up in clinics (39% stopped) compared to those who were followed up telephone sessions (30%). In the multivariate analysis, the predictors of quitting at 12 months were: to have used NRT (OR 12.2; 95% CI, 5.2-32; p=0.002) and a higher score in the Richmond Test (OR 10.1; 95% CI, 3.9-24.2; p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A cognitive type intervention started on smokers when admitted to hospital increases quitting rates at 12 months, compared to a minimal intervention, and these rates increase even more significantly if NRT is added.