Fifty-two-week continuous abstinence rates of smokers being treated with varenicline versus nicotine replacement therapy: Comparison of varenicline and NRT
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cross-study comparisons of effect sizes suggest that varenicline is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in aiding smoking cessation, but evidence from direct comparisons is limited. This study compared biochemically verified 52-week sustained abstinence rates in smokers attending the same clinical service according to whether they used varenicline or NRT in their quit attempt. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 855 smokers attending a large smoking cessation clinic who used their choice of NRT product or varenicline in their quit attempt. All received the same behavioural support programme and chose their medication option (n = 519 varenicline; n = 336 NRT). The primary outcome measure was self-report of 52 weeks' abstinence following the target quit date confirmed by expired air carbon monoxide concentration. Baseline measures included socio-demographic variables, mental health diagnoses, measures of smoking, cigarette dependence and past use of NRT or varenicline. RESULTS: The 52-week abstinence rates were 42.8% versus 31.0% in those using varenicline versus NRT, respectively (P < 0.001). After adjusting for all baseline variables, the odds of remaining abstinent for 52 weeks were 2.03 (95% CI 1.46-2.82), P < 0.001 times higher in those using varenicline than those using NRT. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers in the same behavioural support programme who use varenicline appear to have a greater probability of achieving long-term abstinence than those using their choice of nicotine replacement therapy options, even after adjusting for potentially confounding smoker characteristics.
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In previous analysis of a smaller sample from the clinic, varenicline was associated with higher rates of abstinence even after adjusting for other variables.
“In previous analysis of a smaller sample from the clinic, varenicline was associated with higher rates of abstinence even after adjusting for other variables [37].”
From Depression and smoking cessation: evidence from a smoking cessation clinic with 1-year follow-up (2017) · cites this paper as [37]
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Tobacco smoking: health impact, prevalence, correlates and interventions
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- Authors
- Kralikova, E., Kmetova, A., Stepankova, L., Zvolska, K., Davis, R., & West, R.
- Affiliations
- University College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- West, Robert
- Venue
- Addiction
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-05-13
- Volume
- 108
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1497-1502
- ISSN
- 0965-2140 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1816201445
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 5.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Addiction (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Cancer Research UK (14135)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Keywords
- varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy, smoking cessation, sustained abstinence, long-term abstinence, nicotine dependence, behavioral support, expired carbon monoxide, drug selection
- MeSH terms
- Varenicline, Smoking Prevention, Benzazepines, Breath Tests, Carbon Monoxide, Drug Administration Routes, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Quinoxalines, Smoking Cessation, Treatment Outcome, Nicotinic Agonists, Tobacco Use Cessation Devices
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