This systematic review and meta-analysis involving 39,499 participants reveals that smokers who stopped smoking at least four weeks prior to cancer surgery experience significantly fewer complications. Those who smoked within four weeks before surgery faced 31% higher odds of complications, while those who never smoked had even greater risks, showing an odds ratio of 2.83. Interestingly, short-term smoking cessation (within two weeks) did not show significant difference in complications, highlighting the need for further investigation on optimal cessation periods.
Meta-Analysis by Wong C, Mohamad Asfia SKB (…) McCaffrey N et 7 al. in JAMA Netw Open