When compared to nonsmokers, current and former smokers incur higher postoperative costs for up to one year after surgery, according to research published in JAMA Surgery.
Researchers tracked at least one year of post-surgical costs and smoking status for patients who had inpatient surgery at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic.
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They found smokers incurred an average of $400 more in medical bills per month after discharge, while former smokers incurred $273 more in medical bills per month after discharge.