New evidence from a New Zealand vaping study suggests that more smokers could successfully quit if they use e-cigarettes in combination with nicotine patches.
The randomised trial, published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine, is said to be the first to test the efficacy and safety of using nicotine e-cigarettes with nicotine patches as combination NRT.
In the study, conducted by Auckland University researchers, 1124 vaping-naïve adult smokers were assigned to nicotine patches only (125), patches plus placebo (nicotine-free) e-cigarettes (500), and patches plus an e-cigarette with 18mg of nicotine (499).
Participants were advised to start using their quit products two weeks before their quit date, and continue for a further 12 weeks. They were also offered six weeks of phone-based behavioural support.
People who used patches plus nicotine e-cigarettes were the more likely to have abstained from smoking for six months following the treatment, than those who used patches plus nicotine-free e-cigarettes
At six months 35 (7%) of participants in the nicotine patches plus nicotine e-cigarette group had verified continuous abstinence compared with 20 (4%) in the patches plus nicotine-free e-cigarette group (risk difference 2·99), and three (2%) people in the patches only group (RD 4·60).
Half (62) of the participants in the patches only group withdrew or were lost to follow-up by 6 months compared with 32% in the patches plus nicotine e-cigarette group and 33% in the patches plus nicotine-free e-cigarette group.
No significant between-group differences were noted for serious adverse events, and none were treatment-related.
The study investigators said their findings added to those of other vaping trials that suggested e-cigarettes could have a role in smoking cessation
“All five published trials on e-cigarettes for smoking cessation are pragmatic in design, suggesting that under real-world conditions, e-cigarettes (with and without nicotine) could help some people quit smoking,” they wrote.
“E-cigarettes should be offered as one of the many smoking cessation aids available to people wanting to quit, but do not appear to be a solution for all.