Cochrane Study: Vaping Better Than Other NRT

A Cochrane review has found the strongest evidence to date that e-cigarettes help people quit smoking better than traditional nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches and gum. The review, published last week, found that e-cigarette users were more likely than NRT users to quit smoking for at least six months.

Evidence also suggests that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes have higher quit rates compared to nicotine-free e-cigarettes or no smoking cessation interventions, but there are fewer data to contribute to these analyses. The updated Cochrane review includes 78 studies involving more than 22,000 participants-an increase of 22 studies since the last update in 2021.

Tobacco use is a major global health problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 22.3% of the world's population will use tobacco by 2020, even though it kills up to half of all users. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and many other diseases. While most smokers want to quit, many find it difficult to do so permanently. Nicotine patches and gum are safe, effective and widely used methods to help individuals quit smoking.