The cardiovascular benefits of smoking cessation depend directly on the prevalence of smoking, its impact on cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, and the extent to which this risk factor is addressed. Smoking is a major cardiovascular risk factor that is often underestimated. It is the primary and often sole cause of acute cardiovascular events in young people. It has an effect regardless of the intensity or duration of smoking. The underlying mechanisms are primarily thrombosis and vasospasm, which are rapidly reversible upon smoking cessation. Smoking cessation can provide rapid and significant cardiovascular benefits: - in primary prevention, by preventing the earliest and most unjustified events; - in secondary prevention, by reducing cardiovascular events by 30 to 50%. Furthermore, since it offers the best cost-benefit ratio in cardiovascular prevention, managing this risk factor must therefore be a priority among cardiovascular prevention strategies. (R.A.)