Epidemiology of tobacco use in dialysis patients in France and survey of nephrologists’ involvement in counseling on tobacco discontinuation

Background Tobacco smoking is an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and increases morbidity and mortality in CKD patients. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the epidemiology of smoking in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis in France. A second objective was to assess the involvement of nephrologists in supporting patients for smoking cessation. Methods Data on the smoking history of prevalent patients on maintenance dialysis in France between 2010 and 2020 were obtained from the REIN database (Renal Epidemiology and Information Network), updated by all French nephrology and dialysis centers. As for the support to smoking discontinuation, a questionnaire on smoking cessation assistance was sent to all members of the French Society of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation (SFNDT). Results The proportion of current smokers among patients on maintenance dialysis was 10.4% in 2010, 11.2% in 2015 and 11.6% in 2020. A total of 228 nephrologists among the 790 members of the SFNDT participated in the survey (28.9%). Most respondents were women (57.3%), worked at a public hospital (61.1%), were under 40 years of age (51.3%) and had no history of smoking (60.8%). The majority reported asking patients about their smoking status and offering brief advice. Among respondents, 72.8% offered help with smoking cessation, 46.3% referred their smoking patients to a tobacco specialist, 51.8% reported prescribing drugs to quit tobacco, and 81.6% requested further training in how to support patients for smoking cessation. Conclusion Smoking cessation training for nephrologists and dedicated programs for patients in nephrology units could improve our practices and decrease the high prevalence of smoking in patients with ESKD. Graphical Abstract