E-cigarettes unhelpful in smoking cessation among cancer patients

In a new study of cancer patients who smoke, those using e-cigarettes (in addition to traditional cigarettes) were more nicotine dependent and equally or less likely to have quit smoking traditional cigarettes than non-users. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings raise doubts about the potential benefits of e-cigarettes for helping cancer patients give up smoking.

Because of the risks of persistent , all who smoke should be advised to quit. But the rising use of e-cigarettes has raised many questions among patients and their including whether e-cigarette use helps or hinders quitting efforts. Even regulators are struggling with the complexities associated with e-cigarettes as they weigh the benefits and risks to the general population and subgroups of individuals.

To examine available clinical data about e-cigarette use and cessation among cancer patients, Jamie Ostroff, PhD, of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and her colleagues studied 1074 cancer patients who smoked and were enrolled between 2012 and 2013 in a tobacco treatment program within a comprehensive cancer center.

The researchers observed a three-fold increase in e-cigarette use from 2012 to 2013 (10.6 percent versus 38.5 percent). At enrollment, e-cigarette users were more nicotine dependent than non-users, had more prior quit attempts, and were more likely to be diagnosed with lung or head and neck cancers. At follow-up, e-cigarette users were just as likely as non-users to be smoking. Seven day abstinence rates were 44.4 percent versus 43.1 percent for e-cigarette users and non-users, respectively (excluding patients who were lost to follow-up).

"Consistent with recent observations of increased e-cigarette use in the , our findings illustrate that e-cigarette use among tobacco-dependent cancer patients has increased within the past two years," said Dr. Ostroff. She stressed that the study had several limitations, and additional studies are required. "Controlled research is needed to evaluate the potential harms and benefits of e-cigarettes as a potential cessation approach for cancer patients. In the meantime, oncologists should advise all smokers to quit smoking traditional combustible cigarettes, encourage use of FDA-approved cessation medications, refer patients for smoking cessation counseling, and provide education about the potential risks and lack of known benefits of long-term e-cigarette use ."

More information: "Electronic cigarette use among cancer patients: Characteristics of e-cigarette users and their smoking cessation outcomes." Sarah P. Borderud, Yuelin Li, Jack E. Burkhalter, Christine E. Sheffer, and Jamie S. Ostroff. Cancer; Published Online: September 22, 2014. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.28810

Journal information: Cancer
Provided by Wiley
Citation: E-cigarettes unhelpful in smoking cessation among cancer patients (2014, September 22) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-09-e-cigarettes-unhelpful-cessation-cancer-patients.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

E-cigarette use not linked to quitting smoking, study finds

 shares

Feedback to editors