Smoking Cessation in Relation to Total Mortality Rates in Women: a Prospective Cohort Study

117,001 female registered nurses participated in this 1976 study on the relationship between stopping smoking and total mortality rates in middle-aged women. The risk of cigarette smoking on total mortality among former smokers had a 24% reduction in risk for cardiovascular disease mortality within 2 yrs. of quitting. The risk of cigarette smoking on total mortality among former smokers decreases nearly to that of never smokers 10 to 14 yrs. after.