A groundbreaking umbrella review conducted by the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) at the University of Catania sheds new light on the efficacy of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid. Published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the study represents one of the most comprehensive analyses to date, evaluating 16 systematic reviews and encompassing data from 24 randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Key Findings:
• E-cigarettes outperformed other cessation treatments in 8 out of 11 meta-analyses.
• No evidence was found to suggest that e-cigarettes are less effective than any alternative treatments.
• While mixed results emerged when comparing ENDS to traditional nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), the overall trend favored ENDS for cessation efficacy.
Catania, November 21st, 2024 -Traditional cessation methods currently integrated into public health guidelines in many countries fail to achieve satisfactory quit rates at the population level. For instance, in the U.S., the average observed quit rate is 7.5% at 12 months. A recent meta-analysis of smoking cessation interventions revealed that the 6-month quit rate for the most intensive interventions, combining behavioral support and pharmacological treatments, was 15.2%. However, without pharmacological treatment, the success rate dropped to 8.6%.
E-cigarettes offer a potential solution to help smokers quit. But are ENDS more, less, or equally effective compared to other smoking cessation treatments or approaches?
A recent umbrella review conducted by the In Silico Research team, a project led by CoEHAR at the University of Catania, found that e-cigarettes are more effective than other treatments for smoking cessation.
“The data from our umbrella review can support the integration of harm reduction strategies into public health policies in many countries,” explains Dr. Renée O’Leary, lead author of the review. “However, the review highlights a critical gap in existing cessation strategies, with long-term success rates for e-cigarettes remaining modest at 10%-12% and the effect of relapse has not been sufficiently studied. New treatments and approaches are urgently needed”.
Despite these promising findings, the study also emphasizes the need for greater scientific rigor in the field. “Our analysis exposes significant reporting biases in many studies. Transparent and balanced research is essential to build trust and guide public health policies.”
“This study provides robust evidence supporting the potential of ENDS as an effective cessation aid, but it also calls for enhanced clinical guidelines and further exploration of long-term outcomes,” stated Prof. Riccardo Polosa, co-author and founder of CoEHAR.
As the debate around e-cigarettes continues to polarize the public health community, this review reinforces the role of e-cigs as a promising component of comprehensive tobacco control strategies.