What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed records from 1,006 diabetic patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for non-healing wounds at five facilities to determine the effects of smoking on treatment outcomes.
What They Found
Smokers with a cumulative history greater than 10 pack-years required an estimated 8 to 14 more hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions compared to non-smokers to achieve some healing. This translated to an additional treatment cost of $4,000 to $7,000 per patient, with an estimated annual cost of $22-37 million for the United States.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with diabetes and a significant smoking history may require more hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions and incur higher treatment costs for non-healing wounds. Quitting smoking could potentially reduce the duration and financial burden of such specialized wound care.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted in the United States.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation is the incomplete smoking history and treatment data available for a large portion of the initial patient cohort.