High quitrate among smokers with tuberculosis in a modified smoking cessation programme in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Setting: BRAC, a non-governmental organisation, implemented a modified smoking cessation programme for tuberculosis (TB) patients based on International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) guidelines in 17 peri-urban centres of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Objective: To determine whether a modified version of The Union's smoking cessation intervention was effective in promoting cessation among TB patients and determinants associated with quitting smoking. Design: Cohort study of routinely collected data. Results: A total of 3134 TB patients were registered from May 2011 to April 2012. Of these, 615 (20%) were current smokers, with a mean age of 38 years (+/- 13.8). On treatment completion, 562 patients were analysed, with 53 (9%) lost to follow-up or dead, while 82% of smokers had quit. Patients with extra-pulmonary TB were less likely to quit than those with pulmonary TB. Patients with high-intensity dependence were less likely to quit than those with low-intensity dependence. Conclusion: This study suggests that a simplified smoking cessation intervention can be effective in promoting smoking cessation among TB patients in Bangladesh. This is encouraging for other low-resource settings; the Bangladesh National Tuberculosis Control Programme should consider nationwide scaling up and integration of this smoking cessation plan.