E-cigarettes and smoking cessation in real-world and clinical settings

E-cigarettes may not be effective for smoking cessation compared with no use of e-cigarettes.

Summary

A systematic review included 38 studies; and all 20 studies with control groups (15 cohort studies, 3 cross-sectional studies, and 2 clinical trials) were included in random effects meta-analysis and sensitivity analyses (41 601 participants). Odds of quitting cigarettes were 28% lower in those who used e-cigarettes compared with those who did not use e-cigarettes (odds ratio [OR] 0.72, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.91). Association of e-cigarette use with quitting did not significantly differ among studies of all smokers using e-cigarettes (irrespective of interest in quitting cigarettes) compared with studies of only smokers interested in cigarette cessation (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.86 vs 0.86, 0.60 to 1.23; p=0.94). Other study characteristics (design, population, comparison group, control variables, time of exposure assessment, biochemical verification of abstinence, and definition of e-cigarette use) were also not associated with the overall effect size. Only a few studies used biochemical verification. There were no trials with head-to-head comparisons of e-cigarettes with approved therapies

Clinical comments

Note

Date of latest search: 14 January 2016

Ədəbiyyat

1. Kalkhoran S, Glantz SA. E-cigarettes and smoking cessation in real-world and clinical settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Respir Med 2016;4(2):116-28.