Nicotine metabolism rate is one of the key factors affecting smoking behavior, and has also been shown to contribute to the efficacy of cessation pharmacotherapy [22]. Many smokers find it exceedingly difficult to succeed in quitting, even when they have a major cardiovascular illness and smoking cessation would greatly improve their prognosis [53]. Current pharmacotherapies and behavioral counselling enhance smoking cessation rate on average by only approximately 2-fold [54], highlighting the need for more effective cessation support. Unraveling the genetic architecture of nicotine metabolism may enhance development of tailored smoking cessation pharmacotherapies.
