The findings are based on regulated vaping products
Smokers who want to quit have a better chance of succeeding if they use nicotine e-cigarettes, a major review has found.
The Cochrane review examined 80 trials involving almost 30,000 people and found nicotine vapes were more effective than traditional quitting aids.
These included nicotine patches, gum and behavioural support plans.
The researchers found nicotine vapes increased the chances of quitting by around 60%.
Around six in every 100 people using traditional quitting methods successfully stopped smoking. This rose to around one in 10 among those using nicotine e-cigarettes.
Nicotine vapes were also more effective than non-nicotine e-cigarettes, although researchers said switching to these could help people gradually reduce their nicotine intake.
The review also found nicotine e-cigarettes could be more effective than cytisine, a nicotine-free medicine the NHS has started rolling out to help people quit.
However, researchers said more evidence was needed to compare the two treatments directly.
The findings are based on regulated vaping products that meet quality standards and comply with safety laws.
The review did not examine unregulated e-cigarettes, which can contain illicit substances such as Spice or THC.
One of the report’s authors, Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, said:
“Unlicensed e-cigarettes are potentially dangerous, with issues including unstable batteries and harmful chemicals.
“Anyone looking to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking should only purchase devices that have been tested and approved by their country’s regulatory body.”
The review found no evidence of an increased risk of serious harm from using e-cigarettes to quit smoking.
However, the long-term health risks of vaping remain unclear and experts stress that it is not risk-free.
The NHS advises children and non-smokers never to vape.
Doctors have also warned that vaping could cause health harms among children and said it should be made “less attractive” to them.
The findings come as vaping has become increasingly common across the UK.
Around 5.3 million people, or 10% of adults, smoke, while around 5.4 million people use vapes either daily or occasionally.
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation.
It kills more than seven million people each year and is linked to serious conditions including heart disease, lung cancer and stroke.
Action on Smoking and Health says around two in three people who smoke long-term will die from a tobacco-related illness.
Quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing these serious illnesses.
Almost every local NHS stop smoking service provides vapes or other support to help people quit.
