Vaping – Effectiveness as a cessation tool: evidence briefing

Footnotes

1. Event rate is a measure of how often a particular statistical event (e.g. quitting smoking) occurs within the treatment group in an experiment (e.g. those assigned to a vaping products arm).

2. One of the two types of vaping products on the market. These have a nicotine formulation that is highly volatile and, when vaporised, enters the bloodstream through the mouth/upper respiratory tract. Freebase nicotine products have higher nicotine concentrations and they are usually perceived by users as harsh and/or bitter.

3. One of the two types of vaping products on the market. These have a formulation resulting from the addition of organic acids to freebase nicotine which then produces protonated nicotine salt. When vaporised, this type of solution travels further down the respiratory tract and is absorbed into the bloodstream by the alveoli (similar to what happens with conventional cigarettes). The addition of organic acids increases nicotine’s smoothness and reduces its bitterness.

4. It has to be noted that inclusion criteria for this review are wider compared to the others as industry-funded research has also been included.