Long-term e-cigarette use and smoking cessation: a longitudinal study with US population.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Tobacco Control
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• E-cigarette popularity has surged, with dual use (combining e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes) being common.
• Concerns exist that dual use may hinder efforts to quit smoking conventional cigarettes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between long-term e-cigarette use and smoking cessation over a two-year period.
• To compare smoking cessation and quit attempt rates among long-term e-cigarette users, short-term users, and non-users.

Main Methods:

• A nationally representative sample of 2028 US smokers was surveyed in 2012 and 2014.
• Long-term e-cigarette use was defined as use at both baseline and follow-up.
• Quit attempt and cessation rates (≥3 months abstinence) were compared across user groups.

Main Results:

• Long-term e-cigarette users exhibited significantly higher quit attempt rates (72.6%) compared to short-term (53.8%) and non-users (45.5%).
• Cessation rates were substantially higher for long-term users (42.4%) versus short-term (14.2%) and non-users (15.6%).
• E-cigarettes were used as a cessation aid more frequently than FDA-approved pharmacotherapy among those attempting to quit.

Conclusions:

• Short-term e-cigarette use did not negatively impact smoking cessation rates.
• Long-term e-cigarette use demonstrated a positive association with successful smoking cessation.