Real-world effectiveness of e-cigarettes when used to aid smoking cessation: a cross-sectional population study
Menée auprès de 5 863 adultes ayant essayé d'arrêter de fumer dans les 12 derniers mois, cette étude transversale évalue, du point de vue de l'abstinence tabagique auto-rapportée, l'efficacité des cigarettes électroniques pour arrêter de fumer (464 cas) par rapport à un traitement substitutif nicotinique acheté sans prescription médicale (1 922 cas) ou à une tentative de sevrage tabagique effectuée sans aide (3 477 cas)
Background And Aims : Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are rapidly increasing in popularity. Two randomised controlled trials have suggested that e-cigarettes can aid smoking cessation but there are many factors that could influence their real-world effectiveness. This study aimed to assess, using an established methodology, the effectiveness of e-cigarettes when used to aid smoking cessation compared with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) bought over-the-counter and with unaided quitting in the general population.
Design And Setting : A large cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of the English population.
Participants : The study included 5863 adults who had smoked within the previous 12 months and made at least one quit attempt during that period with either an e-cigarette only (n=464), NRT bought over-the-counter only (n=1922) or no aid in their most recent quit attempt (n=3477).
Measurements : The primary outcome was self-reported abstinence up to the time of the survey, adjusted for key potential confounders including nicotine dependence.
Findings : E-cigarette users were more likely to report abstinence than either those who used NRT bought over-the-counter (odds ratio 2.23, 95% confidence interval 1.70 to 2.93, 20.0% vs. 10.1%) or no aid (odds ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.76, 20.0% vs. 15.4%). The adjusted odds of non-smoking in users of e-cigarettes were 1.63 (95% confidence interval 1.17 to 2.27) times higher compared with users of NRT bought over-the-counter and 1.61 (95% confidence interval 1.19 to 2.18) times higher compared with those using no aid.
Conclusions : Among smokers who have attempted to stop without professional support, those who use e-cigarettes are more likely to report continued abstinence than those who used a licensed NRT product bought over-the-counter or no aid to cessation. This difference persists after adjusting for a range of smoker characteristics such as nicotine dependence.
Addiction , article en libre accès, 2013