Nicotine e-cigarettes have proven to be more effective than traditional treatments such as patches and gum for quitting smoking, according to a recent review conducted by researchers from the University of Oxford.
The evaluation, which incorporates 80 randomized clinical trials and nearly 30,000 adult smokers, is considered the most comprehensive conducted to date on the use of vaping and tobacco cessation. The study concludes that those using nicotine vapes are approximately 60% more likely to quit smoking compared to those employing conventional methods. The authors of the review believe that this conclusion has a high degree of scientific certainty, a rigorous standard in evidence-based medicine.
In a direct comparison between e-cigarettes and traditional replacement therapies, the analysis covered seven trials with 2,544 participants. The results indicated that nicotine vaping devices offer a 59% higher likelihood of quitting than traditional methods, which translates to about four more ex-smokers per 100 people attempting to quit. The review places the success rate at around six out of every 100 people using traditional methods, compared to nearly ten out of every 100 using nicotine vapes.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, emphasized that these findings are applicable only to specific products. “We have very strong evidence that regulated nicotine e-cigarettes are substantially less harmful than smoking,” she stated. Hartmann-Boyce also warned that the results do not include illicit devices or products containing other substances, such as THC, as these may present different risk profiles.
A critical point noted in the review is the persistent myth among many smokers, who believe that all alternatives to cigarettes are equally dangerous. This belief may discourage the shift towards more effective methods. Despite advancements, the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains a cautious stance regarding vaping and acknowledges that there are associated risks, especially for minors and individuals who have not previously used tobacco. For this reason, the WHO does not recommend the widespread use of electronic devices as a method for quitting smoking.
Source: www.infobae.com
