RESEARCH NOTE: Nicotine- vs Non-Nicotine Containing E-Cigs for Cessation

Researchers ran a clinical trial with individuals randomized into one of three arms. Individuals in all three arms received individual counseling. In one arm, individuals were 12 weeks of non-nicotine e-cigarettes.

In another arm, individuals received nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. The final group only received the counseling.

FINDINGS

: At 12-weeks, the group with e-cigarettes were over twice as likely to still be abstinent from conventional cigarettes than those in the counseling-alone group. However, this difference had vanished to statistical insignificance at 24 weeks. Interestingly, the findings were reversed with the non-nicotine e-cigarettes. That is, at 24 weeks those who had been given non-nicotine e-cigarettes were over twice as likely to still be abstinent than those in the counseling-group.

KEY TAKEAWAY

: It’s important to note this is a single study adding to a very limited pool of randomized trials studying e-cigarettes for cessation. And the authors point out that the small sample (n=376) wasn’t sufficiently powered to provide longer-term results. Nevertheless, this study supports previous studies (see research note from February 2019) that e-cigarettes might be useful as a cessation device from conventional cigarettes but fall short of achieving full nicotine abstinence. And, that non-nicotine e-cigarettes (and FDA-approved pharmacotherapy) remain the best pathways forward for that particular goal at the moment. Source:

Eisenberg, MJ, Hébert-Losier, A,…Filion, KB. (2020). Effect of e-Cigarettes Plus Counseling vs Counseling Alone on Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 324(18): 1844-1854.

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