P4394Two-year therapeutic effectiveness of pharmacotherapy versus electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: A single-center experience

Abstract Purpose Aim of this study is to compare the long-term (2-year) effectiveness of e-cigarettes (EC) vs pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation. Methods We analyzed data from 173 smokers visiting our unit from January 2012 to December 2016 followed for two years. Of them, 128 were treated with varenicline for 3 months and 45 used EC for 3 months to quit smoking. Results There were not significant differences in severity of nicotine dependence and cigarette consumption (pack-years) between the two groups. Compared to smokers under varenicline therapy, EC users were younger (38±7 vs 49±12 years, P<0.01). The two groups had no gender difference and similar prevalence of traditional risk factors and coronary artery disease. Figure shows the smoking abstinence rates at the end of treatment period (3 months) and the continuous abstinence rates at 2 years. At the end of treatment period, 79 (62%) of subjects under therapy with varenicline were abstinent from smoking while 31 (69%) of individuals using EC did not smoke combustile cigarettes 3 months after the initiation of vaping. The continuous abstinence rates at 2 years was significantly higher among individuals treated with varenicline compared to EC (41% vs 24%, P<0.05). Interestingly, at 2 years, 12 EC users (27%) continued vaping alone and 21 (47%) were dual (EC and tobacco cigarette) users. EC vs varenicline and smoking abstinence Conclusions Our preliminary data indicate that smokers who received varenicline had significantly higher continuous abstinence rates compared to individuals who used EC at a 2-year follow-up. Furthermore, almost half of the later group maintained dual use.