Table 1.

Key points

Smoking is as common in those with asthma as in the general adult community, and even higher in adolescents with asthma. Smokers with asthma are predisposed to worse symptoms and greater deficits in lung function

As current asthma and personal smoking may interact to worsen lung function, the excess individual deficits provide another compelling reason to quit, ideally at the earliest possible age

Smoking cessation in people with asthma has been associated with positive outcomes such as better asthma control and improved lung function. The introduction of smoke-free environments has also improved asthma outcomes

Adult smokers with asthma may have greater difficulty in quitting than those who do not have a chronic illness, yet current smoking cessation strategies do not specifically target this subgroup, largely due to a lack of evidence recommended in order to facilitate a sustained quit attempt

Smoking cessation and other strategies aimed at optimizing asthma control should be addressed at every opportunity, with early follow-up and electronic systems. More research is needed with regard to the use of electronic nicotine delivery devices

Emerging asthma-specific smoking cessation strategies include reminders by cellular phone and education via online, web-based, computer-delivered,

For children with asthma, motivational interviewing with carers might be a useful approach to reduce asthma symptoms. For adolescents, training older peers to deliver asthma education is another promising strategy

Considering the specific needs of current smokers with asthma may facilitate a smoking cessation intervention that is more individualized and aimed at improving quit rates in the longer term