Vaping Emerges as Top Tool for Quitting Smoking in Global Evidence Review
A global overview of 14 systematic reviews (2014–2023) finds nicotine-containing e-cigarettes more effective for long-term smoking cessation than nicotine replacement therapy, non-nicotine e-cigarettes, or behavioral support, with higher-quality evidence showing consistent benefits. However, safety data remain inconclusive and there are gaps, notably a lack of high-quality trials comparing e-cigarettes with cytisine, bupropion, nicotine pouches, or varenicline and limited data from low- and middle-income countries. The authors call for more primary research, including adverse-event monitoring across diverse settings, to fully understand risks and global applicability.