Smoking: exercise programmes do not clearly help smokers to quit

Clinical bottom line (level 1a-)

  1. Exercise programmes do not clearly help smokers to quit.
Ussher et al: Cochrane Library 2000; 3 : -
Expires May 2004

The study

Systematic review of all randomised trials of
  • Patients: smoker or recent quitter
  • Intervention: exercise programme plus cessation programme compared with cessation programme alone
  • Outcome: quit smoking at 6 months

Articles found in ?all languages using Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group register including Medline, PsycLit, Dissertation Abstracts and Sport Discus, to February 2000 (search terms: smoking, smoking cessation, exercise, physical activity and intervention ) and hand-searching reference lists and performing additional searches on key authors

Selection criteria: by 1 reviewer using criteria agreed on by all three
Appraisal criteria: by 1 reviewer using randomisation method,
Articles excluded if:
  • follow-up < 6 months
  • exericse part of multiple interventions
  • not all participants were smokers who wanted to quit
8 studies found. Due to the small size and difference in intervention no meta-analysis was performed.

The evidence

  • One study out of the eight demonstrated a significant benefit from exercise on long-term follow-up.

Comments

  1. Most studies were small - six had fewer than 25 people in each treatment arm.

Citation

  1. Ussher MH, West R, Taylor AH, et al: exercise interventions for smoking cessation (Cochrane review). Cochrane Library 2000; 3 : -
Search Terms: smoking and cessation in Cochrane Library
Contributor: Chris Ball, May 2002
Reviewer:

Clinical Question.
Patient smoker
Intervention or Exposure exercise program
Outcome quit smoking