Review of 80 trials finds nicotine e-cigarettes outperform patches and gum for quitting smoking
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A review of 80 clinical trials involving nearly 30,000 people found nicotine e-cigarettes helped more smokers quit than patches or gum. Researchers stress that regulated vapes are not risk-free.
An updated Cochrane review found that nicotine e-cigarettes may help more people stop smoking than nicotine gum, nicotine patches, behavioral support, or trying to quit without help. The review covered 80 randomized controlled trials with 29,861 participants. Nine new trials were added in this update. The authors say their main conclusions have not changed.
The researchers found high-certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes beat nicotine replacement therapy such as patches and gum. For every 100 people, about 4 additional people quit with e-cigarettes. Nicotine e-cigarettes also beat non-nicotine e-cigarettes, with about 2 additional quitters per 100 people. Quit rates were also higher than with no support or behavioral support. The researchers have less confidence in that comparison because of possible bias in how some studies were designed.
This is not a clean bill of health for vaping. The review found no evidence that using e-cigarettes to quit smoking increased the risk of serious harm, but the authors say longer-term research is still needed. The findings apply only to regulated, nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. Illicit products and e-cigarettes containing other substances, such as THC, may present different risks. The senior author says unlicensed e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous, with issues including unstable batteries and harmful chemicals. The authors say vaping still carries health risks, but much smaller than continuing to smoke. Major health bodies including the WHO warn that e-cigarettes expose users to nicotine and other chemicals that can be harmful. Health officials have also raised concern that use among children and young people can lead to nicotine addiction and later tobacco use.
What you can do: The authors say e-cigarettes may not be the best method for everyone. If you want to quit smoking, speak with a stop-smoking support service or your clinician about the most suitable approach. If you use an e-cigarette to quit, buy only devices tested and approved by your country's regulator. Lists of regulated devices are available from the FDA in the US and the MHRA in the UK. If you feel unwell, contact your doctor.
What you can doAI-generated
- ✓Switch to a nicotine e-cigarette if you've failed with patches or gum before. The evidence shows regulated vapes work better than these older nicotine replacements for actually quitting.
- ✓Ask your doctor which regulated nicotine e-cigarettes are available where you live. Don't buy unlicensed vapes or products with THC mixed in, since those aren't covered by this research and may contain harmful chemicals.
- ✓Talk to a quit-smoking program about combining a regulated nicotine e-cigarette with behavioral support. The trials show e-cigarettes work best when paired with coaching or counseling.
- ✓Read the product label to confirm it contains only nicotine. This review only applies to regulated nicotine vapes, not street products or devices with other substances added.
Always consult a healthcare professional for personal medical advice.
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