E-cigarettes effective in helping smokers quit, less harmful than cigarettes – Cochrane report

A comprehensive review conducted by Cochrane, a globally recognized network of health researchers, has delivered compelling evidence in favor of using electronic cigarettes with nicotine to help adult smokers stop smoking traditional cigarettes.

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The systematic review, titled "Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation," analyzed data from a substantial body of research. The study encompassed 104 different studies involving a total of 30,366 adult smokers, with the majority of the data coming from the United States (48 studies) and the United Kingdom (21 studies).

The researchers compared the efficacy of nicotine e-cigarettes against several other methods, including traditional nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), non-nicotine e-cigarettes and behavioral support. Their findings indicate that these devices are more effective than NRT such as patches and gum, at helping smokers stop smoking for at least six months.

E-cigarettes, like nicotine pouches and heat not burn products, are tools for tobacco harm reduction, a pragmatic public health approach that aims to address the health risks associated with smoking. The Cochrane review adds significant weight to the debate surrounding the regulation of vapor products globally, and in the Philippines where vaping is increasingly becoming popular.