New York, Oct. 14 (Reuters): Fewer than half of cigarette smokers quit after experiencing a first cardiac event, according to a survey of Europeans. One in five continue to light up despite personal advice from their doctor to stop smoking, the survey shows.

It is “unbelievable” that so many people continue to smoke after a life-threatening event for which smoking is a major risk factor, Dr Wilma Scholteop Reimer said. In the latest issue of the European Heart Journal, she wonders if they are “truly aware of the risk that they are taking”.

The researchers interviewed 5,551 heart patients in 47 hospitals in 15 European countries more than one year after the event or condition that landed them in hospital.

They asked participants whether they had smoked in the 30 days prior to being admitted to the hospital and whether they currently smoked.

Those who denied smoking took a breath test for carbon monoxide, just to be sure.

The study found nearly 21 per cent were still smoking after a cardiac event.

Virtually all of the 2,244 individuals who smoked before the heart event had been advised to stop, but only 48 per cent actually stopped.

Smokers younger than age 50 were less likely to quit than older smokers.