E-cigarettes assist smokers in permanently quitting.

Hartmann-Boyce J. et al., ‘Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020,’ Issue 10.

Key Points:

Cochrane Reviews are thorough, reliable systematic reviews conducted by subject specialists.
The evaluation included an analysis of 50 vaping studies. The trials compared the use of e-cigarettes with nicotine-free products, NRTs, varenicline, and cold turkey (no behavioural assistance such as advising or counselling).
Key findings:
- Compared to NRT, vaping helps more people quit smoking for at least six months.
- Compared to nicotine replacement treatment (NRT) like patches and gum, vaping is 70% more successful in helping smokers stop.
- There is no proof that those who vape have more severe health issues than those who use nicotine-free vapes, NRT, or don’t use any therapy at all.
- Ten people in 100 would quit through vaping for every six in 100 people that quit using nicotine replacement therapy. The potential is thus there for four additional persons out of every 100 to quit smoking by vaping.
- Irritation in the throat or mouth, headaches, coughing, and nausea were the most often reported side effects among vapers, but these symptoms gradually subsided.