High Blood Viscosity Can Predict Higher Risk of Death in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

EMBARGOED UNTIL JULY 18, 2022, 2PM EST                  Study Title: “Association of Blood Viscosity with Mortality among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19” Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology – *Embargoed until July…

Starting Smoking Cessation in Hospitalized Patients Would Reduce Many Premature Deaths

Each year in the U.S., about 30 million hospitalizations occur in individuals 18 and older. Of these, more than 7 million are current cigarette smokers whose average hospital stay is several days. Researchers say that starting smoking cessation therapy during hospitalization and maintaining high adherence post-discharge can markedly improve permanent quit rates in these patients with minimal to no side effects. Cessation therapy also should include long-term counseling and at least 90 days of a prescription drug, specifically, varenicline.