Summary
Introduction:
This article reviews the latest evidence regarding the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as smoking cessation aids. It discusses the ongoing debate surrounding the safety and regulation of e-cigarettes. as a regulatory expert, this summary will highlight the key points of the study design, major findings, and the main message of the text.
Key points:
* The review is based on the guidelines by the Royal College of Physicians (2016) and Public health England (2018), and a search of PubMed using terms "vaping", "electronic cigarettes" and "smoking cessation".
* The number of e-cigarette users in the UK is around 2.9 million, with 60% of adult conventional cigarette smokers having tried e-cigarettes and 18% using both.
* E-cigarettes deliver nicotine to the lungs without the harmful carcinogens, toxins, and oxidizing agents found in conventional tobacco cigarettes.
* The review covers different types of e-cigarettes, including first-generation, tank models, mods, and JUUL devices, which use nicotine salts to better mimic the nicotine "hit" of conventional cigarettes.
* Nicotine is addictive, but its harmfulness depends on the administration method. E-cigarettes can help ex-smokers prevent relapse by providing a safer nicotine delivery system.
* The review discusses the use of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids, including the 2018 Royal College of Physicians report on treating tobacco dependency in the NhS.
* The evidence for smoking cessation includes two randomized controlled trials and several observational studies, with mixed results.
* The review also touches on the potential harms associated with e-cigarettes, such as the carcinogenic potential, cardiovascular and non-cancer lung disease, gateway to tobacco and other drugs, poisonings, fires, and explosions.
Main message:
The main message of this article is that e-cigarettes can potentially help with smoking cessation, but their safety and effectiveness are not yet fully established. Regulatory measures must be in place to ensure that vaping does not worsen the tobacco epidemic. healthcare professionals should be aware of the latest evidence and provide appropriate guidance to patients who are interested in using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid.
Citation
Mathur, a, and Oj Dempsey. “Electronic Cigarettes: a Brief Update.” Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 48, no. 4 (December 2018): 346–51. https://doi.org/10.4997/jrcpe.2018.415.
