The paper, ‘Efficacy and safety of electronic cigarettes as a smoking cessation intervention: a systematic review and network meta-analysis’ is just published in Tobacco Prevention & Cessation, which is the official journal of the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP). It employed systematic review and network meta-analysis of 10 randomised controlled trials.

Key findings in the paper include:

  • The incidences of smoking cessation at 24‒26 weeks were comparable between Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and NRT groups
  • The findings for incidences of smoking cessation at 52 weeks were inconclusive
  • For all reported adverse events, the incidence of documented adverse events was lower in the control groups (NRT or e-cigarette with no nicotine) than in the e-cigarette with nicotine group, except for shortness of breath in two studies (highest in the e-cigarette with no nicotine group) and cough in one study (highest in NRT group).

Speaking about the findings, Dr Jean Long, Head of the HRB Evidence Centre and an author of the paper, says:

“Current systematic review evidence on the value of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation shows inconsistent results. This means more high-quality primary evidence is needed before any conclusions can be made on e-cigarettes as a proven, safe and effective intervention to stop smoking.

Dr Long continues:

“Current research does affirm that clinician and policy-makers’ approach to tackling the harms of smoking can be focussed with confidence on regulated interventions, such as NRT and/or varenicline with behavioural interventions, knowing they are well-proven to be safe and effective.”