The DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A polymorphism is associated with smoking cessation failure in patients with coronary heart disease.

Aim: We speculated whether DRD2 or CHRN subunit polymorphisms might be associated with the risk of smoking cessation failure in subjects after coronary heart disease (CHD) manifestation.

Methods: A total of 964 patients with CHD, mean age 64.3 years (standard deviation [SD] 9.0), examined in the EUROASPIRE III and IV surveys were genotyped for rs1800497 (DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A), rs578776 (CHRNA5-A3-B4), rs16969968 (CHRNA5) and rs1051730 (CHRNA3) SNPs.

Results: The presence of DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A minor T allele was independently associated with increased relative risk of smoking persistence (odds ratio: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.13-4.35). We observed no association between CHRN SNPs and smoking habit.

Conclusion: DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A polymorphism is associated with a decreased likelihood of smoking cessation in patients after CHD manifestation.