E-cigarettes may be more effective in helping pregnant smokers quit

Research shows that pregnant smokers are more likely to quit smoking using electronic cigarettes after four weeks than nicotine patches.

Researchers have discovered that electronic cigarettes may be equally safe for pregnant women trying to quit smoking as nicotine patches, and may even be a more effective tool.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, miscarriage, and low birth weight. However, quitting this habit can be a challenging process.

Dr. Francesca Pesola from Queen Mary University of London, the author of this new study, stated that "many pregnant smokers find it difficult to quit smoking using current cessation aids (including nicotine patches) and continue smoking throughout their pregnancy.

Although it has been discovered that electronic cigarettes are more effective than nicotine patches in helping people quit smoking, Pesola points out that despite the increasing use of electronic cigarettes by pregnant women, research on their effectiveness or safety is scarce.

After attempting to quit smoking for four weeks, 15.4% of individuals who reported using e-cigarettes said that they no longer smoke, compared to only 8.6% of those using nicotine patches.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of negative outcomes, including premature birth, miscarriage, and low birth weight for the infant. However, quitting this habit can be a challenging process.

Although electronic cigarettes have been shown to be more effective than nicotine patches in helping people quit smoking, Pesola points out that despite an increase in the use of e-cigarettes among pregnant women, there is little research on their effectiveness or safety.

Researchers led by Pesola reported in the journal Nature Medicine that they randomly assigned 569 pregnant smokers to use e-cigarettes and 571 pregnant women to use nicotine patches – a nicotine replacement therapy that can already be prescribed during pregnancy. The participants were an average of 15.7 weeks pregnant and smoked 10 cigarettes per day.

Only 40% of participants received an electronic cigarette and 23% received a patch, both of which were used for at least four weeks. However, during the study period, those who received electronic cigarettes had higher usage rates and longer usage times.

Excluding participants who self-reported not smoking but using nicotine products other than those assigned to them, such as those using nicotine patches along with e-cigarettes, the research team found that those who received e-cigarettes appeared to do better in terms of smoking cessation.

After attempting to quit smoking for four weeks, 15.4% of individuals self-reported that they had not smoked, compared to only 8.6% of those who were given patches. At the end of their pregnancies, 19.8% of the e-cigarette group self-reported that they had quit smoking, while only 9.7% of the patch group had done so.

Only a small number of participants provided saliva samples to confirm smoking cessation at the end of pregnancy, but once those who used unassigned products were excluded, the research group found that the quit rates among the electronic cigarette group were higher.

Additionally, the research team found that the incidence of adverse events was similar between individuals who were given cigarettes and those who were given patches. More importantly, although the average birth weight of infants was similar, low birth weight was more common in the patch group.

However, this study has limitations, including low compliance and the use of electronic cigarettes that differ from modern devices.

The author further stated that due to the potential risks of nicotine during pregnancy, it is best for pregnant women to quit smoking without using nicotine-containing products.

Pesola stated, "We only recommend nicotine use for smokers who wish to quit traditional cigarettes.

However, she added, "The risks posed to mothers or infants by using electronic cigarettes are no greater than those posed by nicotine patches. Both are better choices than continuing to smoke throughout the entire course of pregnancy.

Source: The Guardian

E-cigarettes are equally safe as nicotine patches for pregnant women who smoke and are attempting to quit, according to a report in The Guardian on May 16, 2022.