Smoking cessation among older adults –what has changed and what still needs to be done

Abstract

Smoking remains one of the greatest public health threats worldwide. Elderly smokers have a greater consumption of tobacco and more related health problems than younger smokers. There are several options to support smoking cessation. However, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the most effective interventions in elderly smokers. This rapid review of the literature focused on smoking cessation in the elderly, main therapeutic pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, and evolution over the last few years. Therapy with nicotine substitutes, the existence of intensive, accessible and flexible appointments, and social support, were the techniques that seemed to achieve better results. There is a lack of scientific literature on smoking cessation in elderly adults, which requires more high-quality scientific evidence, in order to improve current knowledge and clinical practice.