2019 Recommendations for reducing tobacco consumption in the Portuguese‐speaking countries

After several decades of initiatives at international and national level inspired by the World Health Organization, tobacco consumption is still the second leading cause of death in the world and the leading cause of premature death and disability, as a result of various types of cancer and pulmonary, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease. Tobacco consumption is also an important public health issue in Portuguese‐speaking countries, which fully justifies the launch and implementation of these 2019 recommendations for reducing tobacco consumption in Portuguese‐speaking countries by the Federation of Portuguese Language Cardiology Societies. This position statement reviews recent changes in and the present epidemiology of tobacco consumption in the Portuguese‐speaking countries, discusses the negative health impact of new forms of tobacco consumption, and addresses available prevention and drug treatment strategies. Eliminating smoking requires a coordinated effort between various national and international bodies, with a policy approach in each country focusing on laws, education campaigns for primary prevention aimed at to the general public, particularly to encourage young people not to start smoking, and a health system approach to help smokers quit smoking permanently by a combination of drug treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy. The aim is to control the only cardiovascular risk factor that can be completely eliminated. This position statement aims to alert health professionals to the need to approach the subject of smoking cessation with patients and their families during hospitalizations and outpatient consultations, and to provide them with up‐to‐date knowledge on how to quit smoking and maintain control of this risk factor in the long term.