Why are the risks not different for non-smokers and ex-smokers?
06-Mar-2006 No significant differences were found in coronary heart disease or stroke risk between non-smokers and ex-smokers but the “ex-smoking” category has been maintained as it is likely to be required in future versions of the UKPDS Risk Engine which address other diabetic complications. This ex-smoking effect, however, may be time-dependent with an elevated risk in the first few years after giving up smoking with no difference in later years. In the case of a very recent ex-smoker we recommend treating results obtained as potential underestimates of risk.
