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Internal and Emergency Medicine

, Volume 9, Issue 5, pp 537–546 | Cite as

Effectiveness and tolerability of electronic cigarette in real-life: a 24-month prospective observational study

  • Riccardo Polosa
  • Jaymin B. Morjaria
  • Pasquale CaponnettoEmail author
  • Davide Campagna
  • Cristina Russo
  • Angela Alamo
  • MariaDomenica Amaradio
  • Alfredo Fisichella
IM - ORIGINAL
First Online:

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes (e-Cigarette) are battery-operated devices designed to vaporise nicotine that may aid smokers to quit or reduce their cigarette consumption. Research on e-Cigarettes is urgently needed to ensure that the decisions of regulators, healthcare providers and consumers are evidence based. Here we assessed long-term effectiveness and tolerability of e-Cigarette used in a ‘naturalistic’ setting. This prospective observational study evaluated smoking reduction/abstinence in smokers not intending to quit using an e-Cigarette (‘Categoria’; Arbi Group, Italy). After an intervention phase of 6 months, during which e-Cigarette use was provided on a regular basis, cigarettes per day (cig/day) and exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) levels were followed up in an observation phase at 18 and 24 months. Efficacy measures included: (a) ≥50 % reduction in the number of cig/day from baseline, defined as self-reported reduction in the number of cig/day (≥50 %) compared to baseline; (b) ≥80 % reduction in the number of cig/day from baseline, defined as self-reported reduction in the number of cig/day (≥80 %) compared to baseline; (c) abstinence from smoking, defined as complete self-reported abstinence from tobacco smoking (together with an eCO concentration of ≤10 ppm). Smoking reduction and abstinence rates were computed, and adverse events reviewed. Of the 40 subjects, 17 were lost to follow-up at 24 months. A >50 % reduction in the number of cig/day at 24 months was shown in 11/40 (27.5 %) participants with a median of 24 cig/day use at baseline decreasing significantly to 4 cig/day (p = 0.003). Smoking abstinence was reported in 5/40 (12.5 %) participants while combined >50 % reduction and smoking abstinence was observed in 16/40 (40 %) participants at 24 months. Five subjects stopped e-Cigarette use (and stayed quit), three relapsed back to tobacco smoking and four upgraded to more performing products by 24 months. Only some mouth irritation, throat irritation, and dry cough were reported. Withdrawal symptoms were uncommon. Long-term e-Cigarette use can substantially decrease cigarette consumption in smokers not willing to quit and is well tolerated. (http://ClinicalTrials.govnumberNCT01195597).

Keywords

Smoking cessation Smoking reduction Quit rate Adverse events Electronic cigarettes Electronic nicotine delivery devices Cigarette substitutes 

Abbreviations

e-Cigarette

Electronic Cigarette

ENDD

Electronic nicotine delivery device

Cig/day

Cigarettes smoked per day

BP

Blood pressure

mmHg

Millimetres of mercury

FTND

Fagerstrom test of nicotine dependence

BDI

Beck’s depression inventory

eCO

Exhaled carbon monoxide

ppb

Parts per billion

mg

Milligrams

Cartridges/day

Cartridges used per day

ppm

Parts per million

Pack/yrs

Pack-years

SD

Standard deviation

IQR

Interquartile range

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Notes

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Arbi Group Srl (Milano, Italy) for the free supplies of ‘Categoria’ e-Cigarette kits and nicotine cartridges as well as their support. We would also like to thank the study participants for all their time and effort and LIAF (Lega Italiana AntiFumo) for the collaboration.

Conflict of interest

JBM has received lecture fees from Pfizer. RP has received lecture fees from Pfizer and, from Feb 2011, he has been serving as a consultant for Arbi Group Srl.Arbi Group Srl (Milano, Italy), the manufacturer of the e-Cigarette supplied the product, and unrestricted technical and customer support. They were not involved in the study design, running of the study or analysis and presentation of the data. None of the authors have any competing interests to declare.

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Copyright information

© SIMI 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Riccardo Polosa
    • 1
    • 2
  • Jaymin B. Morjaria
    • 3
  • Pasquale Caponnetto
    • 1
    Email author
  • Davide Campagna
    • 1
    • 2
  • Cristina Russo
    • 1
    • 2
  • Angela Alamo
    • 2
  • MariaDomenica Amaradio
    • 2
  • Alfredo Fisichella
    • 2
  1. 1.Centro per la Prevenzione e Cura del Tabagismo (CPCT), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Policlinico-V. Emanuele”Università di CataniaCataniaItaly
  2. 2.Institute of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Policlinico-V. Emanuele”Università di CataniaCataniaItaly
  3. 3.Department of Academic Respiratory Medicine, Hull York Medical School, Castle Hill HospitalUniversity of HullCottinghamUK

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