Vapes are more effective in helping people quit smoking than other methods – with or without behavioural support, according to an updated Cochrane review.
The review, which examined 80 randomised control trials involving almost 30,000 people, found ‘high-certainty evidence’ that nicotine vapes led to higher quit rates than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) methods like gum or patches. It also found no evidence of increased serious harm from using vapes as a quitting aid, although longer-term studies are still needed, the researchers say. The Cochrane reviews are regarded as among the most trusted evidence sources in healthcare.
Despite being championed as a quitting tool for adults by anti-smoking organisations like ASH, vapes remain controversial – with the WHO opposed to their use on the basis that they expose users to nicotine and potentially harmful chemicals. Although the number of daily vapers in the UK overtook the number of daily smokers for the first time last month, there remains widespread confusion about their safety, with more than half of adults wrongly believe that vaping is as – or more – harmful than smoking.
‘We have very strong evidence that regulated nicotine e-cigarettes are substantially less harmful than smoking,’ said the review’s senior author, Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce. ‘Based on the consistency of the findings here, it’s clear that they are a proven and viable option for people wishing to quit traditional cigarettes. This update includes nine new trials and our main conclusions haven’t changed.’
It was important to note that while the review looked at regulated e-cigarettes containing nicotine, ‘many of those available on the market do not meet these standards’, he added. ‘Unlicensed e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous, with issues including unstable batteries and harmful chemicals. Anyone looking to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking should only purchase devices that have been tested and approved by their country’s regulatory body.’
‘Quitting smoking is hard and a lot of people who smoke will have tried many times,’ added lead author Dr Nicola Lindson. ‘For that reason, it is important that there are a number of different options available to help somebody quit, which could encourage them to keep trying. Although nicotine vapes are unlikely to be completely risk free, they are less harmful than smoking and that is the most important comparison to make for people who are still smoking tobacco.’
Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation is available here