303 Smoking cessation help should be available at CF reference centres – a Belgian national survey of smoking in patients with cystic fibrosis

Background In Belgium in 2011, 35% of the 15–29 years age group were regular smokers. No information is available about epidemiology of smoking by CF patients in Belgium. Aims To identify active and passive smokers in the Belgian CF patients, to investigate the characteristics of addiction of active CF smokers. Methods Active and passive smokers were identified by means of urinary cotinine (UC) >100 ng/ml, measured by HPLC. Patients with positive UC were asked to meet with a tabacologist, to evaluate their expired CO, their physical, psychological and behavioural addiction to nicotine, and their HAD score. Results Preliminary analysis of 351 patients with complete data sets did not disclose any patient with positive UC before age 19.5. Overall, 30 out of 706 patients (4.5%, 78.8% of target) had a positive UC; 17 met the tabacologist (12 active smokers, 5 passive smokers). Most active smokers (28±10 y) were males (10/12). Mean UC of active smokers was 863±464 ng/ml, mean expired CO was 13.3±7.6 ppm, Fagestrom score was 4.5±3. Almost all active smokers (11/12) had attempted at least once to quit smoking and 5/12 (41%) smoked also cannabis. UC of active smokers was higher in patients with low SE status (1270 vs 747 ng/ml, p=0.04) and correlated with anxiety (R = 0.82, p=0.009). All smoking patients wished to receive specific help for smoking cessation at their CF centre. Conclusion Active or passive exposure to cigarette smoke was present in at least 4–5% of CF patients. Smoking cessation expertise should be available at CF reference centres.