For Lowering MI Risk, Not All Smoke-Free Environments Are Equal

Risk for hospitalization due to myocardial infarction (MI) dropped in various locales following implementation of smoke-free workplace ordinances. To define this relation more precisely, investigators evaluated risk for incident MI and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in relation to enactment of two sequential smoke-free ordinances in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Ordinance 1 (in 2002) banned smoking in restaurants; Ordinance 2 (in 2007) broadened this restriction to include bars and other public spaces and workplaces.

In analyses adjusted for age and sex, MI incidence did not change significantly after implementation of Ordinance 1, but dropped significantly during the 18 months after implementation of Ordinance 2 (from 152/100,000 people before imp…