Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) can deliver nicotine and mitigate tobacco withdrawal
and are used by many smokers to assist quit attempts. We investigated whether e-cigarettes
are more effective than nicotine patches at helping smokers to quit.
We did this pragmatic randomised-controlled superiority trial in Auckland, New Zealand,
between Sept 6, 2011, and July 5, 2013. Adult (≥18 years) smokers wanting to quit
were randomised (with computerised block randomisation, block size nine, stratified
by ethnicity [Māori; Pacific; or non-Māori, non-Pacific], sex [men or women], and
level of nicotine dependence [>5 or ≤5 Fagerström test for nicotine dependence]) in
a 4:4:1 ratio to 16 mg nicotine e-cigarettes, nicotine patches (21 mg patch, one daily),
or placebo e-cigarettes (no nicotine), from 1 week before until 12 weeks after quit
day, with low intensity behavioural support via voluntary telephone counselling. The
primary outcome was biochemically verified continuous abstinence at 6 months (exhaled
breath carbon monoxide measurement <10 ppm). Primary analysis was by intention to
treat. This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry,
number ACTRN12610000866000.
657 people were randomised (289 to nicotine e-cigarettes, 295 to patches, and 73 to
placebo e-cigarettes) and were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. At 6 months,
verified abstinence was 7·3% (21 of 289) with nicotine e-cigarettes, 5·8% (17 of 295)
with patches, and 4·1% (three of 73) with placebo e-cigarettes (risk difference for
nicotine e-cigarette vs patches 1·51 [95% CI -2·49 to 5·51]; for nicotine e-cigarettes
vs placebo e-cigarettes 3·16 [95% CI -2·29 to 8·61]). Achievement of abstinence was
substantially lower than we anticipated for the power calculation, thus we had insufficient
statistical power to conclude superiority of nicotine e-cigarettes to patches or to
placebo e-cigarettes. We identified no significant differences in adverse events,
with 137 events in the nicotine e-cigarettes group, 119 events in the patches group,
and 36 events in the placebo e-cigarettes group. We noted no evidence of an association
between adverse events and study product.
E-cigarettes, with or without nicotine, were modestly effective at helping smokers
to quit, with similar achievement of abstinence as with nicotine patches, and few
adverse events. Uncertainty exists about the place of e-cigarettes in tobacco control,
and more research is urgently needed to clearly establish their overall benefits and
harms at both individual and population levels.
Health Research Council of New Zealand.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.