NRT and ischaemic heart disease (IHD)

Last reviewed 01/2018

What is the advice for patients with heart disease who wish to use NRT?

  • stopping smoking is critical for those with ischaemic heart disease as it can slow the progression of the disease
    • data indicates that for smokers with stable heart disease, the benefits of using NRT to quit smoking out weigh any risks there may be with NRT
    • for those in hospital with severe heart disease, NRT can be used if recommended and supervised by the doctor treating the patient
  • a large study using data from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) reinforced the view that the benefit of NRT for patients with heart disease outweighed any potential risk of NRT

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