E-cigarettes are suitable as an aid in smoking cessation

Cochrane study shows benefits of e-cigarettes

17/12/2014

Since the introduction of e-cigarettes, their advantages over conventional cigarettes and possible positive effects on weaning are discussed intensively. A recent Cochrane study concludes that smokers who use electronic cigarettes can more easily stop smoking or reduce it. The results are encouraging, although the benefits of e-cigarettes over other smoking cessation options, such as nicotine patches and nicotine gums, are encouraging, as the Cochrane Collaboration reports.

The investigation delivers „some early insights on electronic cigarettes as smoking cessation aids and tobacco reduction“, so the message of the Cochrane Collaboration. Although the popularity of e-cigarettes has increased significantly in recent years, it has not yet been known how effectively these weaning support and what their long-term effects are. Unlike chewing gums and patches, e-cigarettes mimic the experience of smoking because they are held in the hand and produce a smoke-like vapor. This has sparked intense debate over whether e-cigarettes make people smoke or provide an alternative to weaning.

Relief of the smoke stop
The current Cochrane review is based on two randomized studies in which researchers from the United Kingdom and New Zealand evaluated data from a total of 662 smokers. In addition, eleven additional observational studies were included in the study. The scientists checked „the impact of electronic cigarettes on abstinence rates and the number of people who were able to reduce their cigarette consumption by at least 50 percent“, reports the Cochrane Collaboration. Also, any negative effects have been detected by electronic cigarette. The researchers found that around nine percent of smokers who used electronic cigarettes containing nicotine-containing liquid stopped smoking for at least one year. This also applied to around four percent of smokers who used nicotine-free electronic cigarettes. Also, 36 percent of e-cigarette smokers had at least halved their daily cigarette consumption when using nicotine liquids (28 percent when using nicotine-free liquids).

E-cigarettes comparable effective as nicotine patches
A study also looked at the impact of electronic cigarettes versus nicotine patches, with similar efficacy of the two treatments, reports the Cochrane Collaboration. Accordingly, the e-cigarettes could contribute to a similar extent to a weaning as nicotine patches. Study author Jamie Hartmann-Boyce said e-cigarettes are especially popular with smokers because they want to reduce their health risk. At least the studies have found no increase in the health risk here. However, the long-term health risks remain difficult to assess. Although the impact of electronic cigarettes is limited because of the small number of study participants, smoking cessation outcomes remain encouraging, says study author Professor Peter Hajek in the Cochrane Collaboration press release. In addition, it can be assumed that newer, more effective products or a higher and faster delivery of nicotine could further improve treatment effects. Here further studies are urgently needed to answer these questions more precisely. (Fp)