Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Marathi Vojjala from New York University, Global Institute of Public Health, USA. Associate Professor Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Associate Professor Nicola Lindson discuss the new evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Dr Marathi Vojjala from the Global Institute of Public Health, New York University, USA.

In the November podcast Marathi Vojjala discusses her pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aims to investigate the effects of switching to electronic cigarettes from combustible cigarettes and the potential acceptability of e-cigarettes or as a harm reduction strategy among individuals with chronic diseases who smoke. This study examines examining the potential of behavioural counselling paired with e-cigarettes versus nicotine replacement therapy (e.g. nicotine patches or gum) for achieving harm reduction and decreased combustible cigarette use. The findings from this pilot RCT hold significant implications for chronic conditions such as COPD, asthma, CAD, and peripheral arterial disease who smoke combustible cigarettes. The observed reduction in CPD and improvement in respiratory symptoms suggest that switching to e-cigarettes appears feasible and acceptable among those with chronic diseases. These results suggest that e-cigarettes may offer an alternative for individuals struggling to quit combustible cigarette smoking through existing pharmacotherapies. This study supports further exploration of switching to e-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy among combustible cigarette users who have been unsuccessful at quitting by other means.

This podcast is a companion to the electronic cigarettes Cochrane living systematic review and shares the evidence from the monthly searches.

Our literature searches carried out on 1st November found 1 new ongoing study (NCT06614504) & 2 linked papers (DOIs: 10.1111/dar.13953 & 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.5196)

For further details see our webpage under 'Monthly search findings':

https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/research/electronic-cigarettes-for-smoking-cessation-cochrane-living-systematic-review-1

For more information on the full Cochrane review updated in January 2024 see: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub8/full

This podcast is supported by Cancer Research UK.