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JAMA Intern Med
. 2019 Jul 15;179(9):1193–1200. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.1483
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ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE USE AND SMOKING REDUCTION IN FRANCE

Ramchandar Gomajee


RAMCHANDAR GOMAJEE, MSC

1Inserm, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Sorbonne
Université, Paris, France
Find articles by Ramchandar Gomajee
1,✉, Fabienne El-Khoury


FABIENNE EL-KHOURY, PHD

1Inserm, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Sorbonne
Université, Paris, France
Find articles by Fabienne El-Khoury
1, Marcel Goldberg


MARCEL GOLDBERG, MD

2Inserm, Unité Mixte de Service 011, Population-based Epidemiological Cohorts,
Villejuif, France
3Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, Paris,
France
Find articles by Marcel Goldberg
2,3, Marie Zins


MARIE ZINS, PHD

2Inserm, Unité Mixte de Service 011, Population-based Epidemiological Cohorts,
Villejuif, France
3Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, Paris,
France
4Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1168, VIeillissement et Maladies
chroniques–Approches épidémiologiques et de santé publique, Villejuif, France
Find articles by Marie Zins
2,3,4, Cédric Lemogne


CÉDRIC LEMOGNE, MD

3Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, Paris,
France
5Assistance publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ouest,
Service de Psychiatrie de l’adulte et du sujet âgé, Paris, France
6Inserm, U894, Centre Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Paris, France
Find articles by Cédric Lemogne
3,5,6, Emmanuel Wiernik


EMMANUEL WIERNIK, PHD

2Inserm, Unité Mixte de Service 011, Population-based Epidemiological Cohorts,
Villejuif, France
Find articles by Emmanuel Wiernik
2, Emeline Lequy-Flahault


EMELINE LEQUY-FLAHAULT, PHD

2Inserm, Unité Mixte de Service 011, Population-based Epidemiological Cohorts,
Villejuif, France
Find articles by Emeline Lequy-Flahault
2, Lucile Romanello


LUCILE ROMANELLO, PHD

2Inserm, Unité Mixte de Service 011, Population-based Epidemiological Cohorts,
Villejuif, France
Find articles by Lucile Romanello
2, Isabelle Kousignian


ISABELLE KOUSIGNIAN, PHD

7BioStatistique, Traitement et Modélisation des données biologiques–Équipe
d’Accueil 7537, Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université Paris Descartes, Paris
75006
Find articles by Isabelle Kousignian
7, Maria Melchior


MARIA MELCHIOR, SCD

1Inserm, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Sorbonne
Université, Paris, France
Find articles by Maria Melchior
1
 * Author information
 * Article notes
 * Copyright and License information

1Inserm, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Sorbonne
Université, Paris, France
2Inserm, Unité Mixte de Service 011, Population-based Epidemiological Cohorts,
Villejuif, France
3Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, Paris,
France
4Inserm, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1168, VIeillissement et Maladies
chroniques–Approches épidémiologiques et de santé publique, Villejuif, France
5Assistance publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ouest,
Service de Psychiatrie de l’adulte et du sujet âgé, Paris, France
6Inserm, U894, Centre Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Paris, France
7BioStatistique, Traitement et Modélisation des données biologiques–Équipe
d’Accueil 7537, Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université Paris Descartes, Paris
75006

Accepted for Publication: March 29, 2019.

✉

Corresponding Author: Ramchandar Gomajee, MSc, Inserm Unité Mixte de Recherche
en Santé 1136, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health,
Sorbonne Université, 27 rue Chaligny, 75012 Paris, France
(ramchandar.gomajee@inserm.fr).

Published Online: July 15, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.1483

Author Contributions: Dr Melchior had full access to all the data in the study
and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the
data analysis.

Concept and design: El-Khoury, Goldberg, Zins, Lemogne, Kousignian, Melchior.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Drafting of the manuscript: Gomajee, Kousignian, Melchior.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All
authors.

Statistical analysis: Gomajee, El-Khoury, Goldberg, Kousignian.

Obtained funding: Zins, Lemogne, Kousignian, Melchior.

Supervision: Kousignian, Melchior.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Lemogne reported receiving personal fees
from Janssen-Cilag, personal fees and nonfinancial support from Lundbeck, and
nonfinancial support from Otsuka Pharmaceutical outside the submitted work. Drs
Lemogne, Wiernik, Lequy, and Romanello reported receiving grants from INCA
during the conduct of the study. No other disclosures were reported.

Funding/Support: The CONSTANCES (Consultants des Centres d’Examens de Santé)
Cohort Study was supported and funded by the Caisse nationale d’assurance
maladie des travailleurs salariés. The CONSTANCES Cohort Study is an
“Infrastructure nationale en Biologie et Santé” is funded by grant
ANR-11-INBS-0002 from Agence Nationale de la Recherche. CONSTANCES is also
partly funded by MSD, AstraZeneca, and Lundbeck. The present analyses were
supported by grant 2016-082 from Institut National du Cancer.

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funding sources had no role in the design and
conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of
the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to
submit the manuscript for publication.

Additional Contributions: We thank the “Caisse nationale d’assurance maladie des
travailleurs salaries” and the “Centres d’examens de santé” of the French Social
Security which are collecting a large part of the data, as well as the “Caisse
nationale d’assurance vieillesse,” ClinSearch, Asqualab, and Eurocell, in charge
of the data quality control.

✉

Corresponding author.

Received 2019 Feb 18; Accepted 2019 Mar 29; Issue date 2019 Sep.

Copyright 2019 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
PMC Copyright notice
PMCID: PMC6632120  PMID: 31305860


KEY POINTS


QUESTION

Is electronic cigarette use associated with smoking reduction in the general
population?


FINDINGS

This cohort study found that, among daily smokers in France, regular (daily)
electronic cigarette use is associated with a significantly higher decrease in
the number of cigarettes smoked per day as well as an increase in smoking
cessation attempts. However, among former smokers, electronic cigarette use is
associated with an increase in the rate of smoking relapse.


MEANING

Daily electronic cigarette use appears to be helpful in initiating smoking
cessation among persons who intend to quit tobacco; however, in the general
population, its efficacy with regard to smoking abstinence in the long term is
uncertain.


ABSTRACT


IMPORTANCE

The electronic cigarette (EC) has become popular among smokers who wish to
reduce their tobacco use levels or quit smoking, but its effectiveness as a
cessation aid is uncertain.


OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of regular EC use with the number of cigarettes
smoked per day, smoking cessation among current smokers, and smoking relapse
among former smokers.


DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The CONSTANCES (Consultants des Centres d’Examens de Santé) cohort study, based
in France, began recruiting participants January 6, 2012, and is currently
ongoing. Participants were enrolled in CONSTANCES through 2015, and included
5400 smokers (mean [SD] follow-up of 23.4 [9.3] months) and 2025 former smokers
(mean [SD] follow-up of 22.1 [8.6] months) at baseline who quit smoking in 2010,
the year in which ECs were introduced in France, or afterward. Analyses were
performed from February 8, 2017, to October 15, 2018.


MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The association between EC use and the number of cigarettes smoked during
follow-up was studied using mixed regression models. The likelihood of smoking
cessation was studied using Poisson regression models with robust sandwich
variance estimators. The association between EC use and smoking relapse among
former smokers was studied using Cox proportional hazards regression models. All
statistical analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics,
duration of follow-up, and smoking characteristics.


RESULTS

Among the 5400 daily smokers (2906 women and 2494 men; mean [SD] age, 44.9
[12.4] years), regular EC use was associated with a significantly higher
decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked per day compared with daily smokers
who did not use ECs (–4.4 [95% CI, –4.8 to –3.9] vs –2.7 [95% CI, –3.1 to
–2.4]), as well as a higher adjusted relative risk of smoking cessation (1.67;
95% CI, 1.51-1.84]). At the same time, among the 2025 former smokers (1004 women
and 1021 men; mean [SD] age, 43.6 [12.1] years), EC use was associated with an
increase in the rate of smoking relapse among former smokers (adjusted hazard
ratio, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.25-2.30).


CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This study’s findings suggest that, among adult smokers, EC use appears to be
associated with a decrease in smoking level and an increase in smoking cessation
attempts but also with an increase in the level of smoking relapse in the
general population after approximately 2 years of follow-up.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This cohort study examines the association of the regular use of electronic
cigarettes with the number of cigarettes smoked per day, smoking cessation among
current smokers, and smoking relapse among former smokers in France.


INTRODUCTION

Cigarette smoking has been identified as a cause of cancer incidence and
mortality since the end of World War II1 and remains a major public health
problem today.2,3 Most smokers initiate tobacco use in adolescence4 and attempt
to quit at around 30 years of age (especially women) or after 50 years of age.5
Pharmacotherapies (nicotine replacement therapy [NRT], bupropion hydrochloride,
and varenicline tartrate) and behavioral therapies have been shown to be
effective in helping smokers quit.6,7,8 However, the appeal of smoking cessation
aids is relatively low,9 and most quit attempts are done “cold turkey” (ie,
stopping nicotine consumption all at once), without professional assistance or
treatment,10,11,12,13 which may be because smoking cessation aids have a
financial cost or because smokers lack knowledge about their effectiveness and
safety. There are also other reasons for not using smoking cessation aids; for
example, some smokers believe that quitting without help gives them greater
satisfaction and a feeling of self-control, strength, and autonomy.10 However,
studies show that smokers who use smoking cessation aids are more likely to
remain abstinent.14

Electronic cigarettes (ECs), sometimes also referred to as electronic nicotine
delivery systems, have become popular in recent years. In the United States,
approximately 15.3% of adults have used ECs,15 as have 14.6% of adults in
Europe16 (41.7% of adults in France17). Approximately 3.2% of persons in the
United States use ECs regularly,15 as do 1.8% of persons in Europe16 (3.8% of
persons in France17). Electronic cigarettes are generally used by smokers who
consider them to be less harmful than conventional cigarettes18,19 and try to
reduce or quit their cigarette consumption.12 In some countries, such as France,
ECs have become the leading smoking cessation method (27% of smokers who try to
quit use ECs), ahead of NRT (18%).12 However, the effectiveness of ECs as a
smoking reduction and cessation aid is still a subject of
controversy.20,21,22,23,24 Randomized clinical trials have shown that ECs are as
effective as21 or more effective than25 NRT with regard to smoking reduction or
cessation. On the other hand, there is also evidence that concurrent use of ECs
and NRT may hamper smoking cessation.26 However, prior studies have been based
on relatively small samples or were conducted for short follow-up periods and
have limited external validity.

One of the major concerns regarding the consequences of EC use is that it might
reduce smokers’ motivation to quit27 by providing a cue for smoking relapse.28
Thus, paradoxically, EC users might need a larger number of quit attempts to
achieve successful smoking cessation. Because former smokers may relapse at
different rates, some after only a few days and others after several months,29
it is necessary to follow the consequences of EC use over extended periods of
time. To date, population-based evidence of long-term smoking trajectories after
EC use is limited.

Moreover, most studies have focused on the association between EC use and
smoking cessation among smokers who are trying to stop smoking21,22 (ie, among
those most motivated to quit). However, in the general population, smokers use
ECs for various reasons—to reduce smoking level, to “smoke” indoors, to reduce
tobacco-related expenses, to reduce health risks, or simply out of
curiosity.30,31 Recent studies have examined the effect of EC use in the general
population,23,32 but they have mostly been cross-sectional or short-term.

The aim of our study, based on the French CONSTANCES (Consultants des Centres
d’Examens de Santé) cohort, was to investigate whether, in a community sample
with prospective follow-up, EC use is associated with changes in the number of
cigarettes smoked, with smoking cessation rates among smokers, and with smoking
relapse among former smokers.


METHODS


STUDY DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS

The CONSTANCES cohort was designed as a randomly selected sample of 200 000
adults drawn from France’s compulsory health insurance scheme (Caisse nationale
d’assurance maladie), which covers about 85% of persons living in France
(excluding farmers and self-employed workers). Recruitment started January 6,
2012, and is currently ongoing, among persons 18 to 69 years of age who live
throughout France; the sociodemographic and economic characteristics of
participants’ districts of residence are very similar to the French average. The
sampling base at inclusion is composed of all persons meeting eligibility
criteria; to obtain a sample comparable to the French population, an unequal
probability sampling scheme overrepresenting men, younger participants, and
those belonging to socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, who generally tend to
have low participation levels in epidemiologic surveys, was implemented.33,34
Every year, participants are invited to complete a paper and pencil or web-based
questionnaire and additionally undergo a medical examination every 4 years.33,34
Participants involved in the first wave of recruitment had more follow-up
questionnaires than those recruited at later stages. The CONSTANCES cohort
received the approval of the French legal authorities (Commission nationale de
l’informatique et des libertés) that ensure ethical review, including an
evaluation of participants’ written informed consent, data confidentiality, and
safety.33

Our investigation is based on CONSTANCES cohort participants included in the
study through 2015, and who had at least 1 completed follow-up questionnaire
(n = 40 311). A total of 19 912 participants (49.4%) were nonsmokers, 6423
(15.9%) were current smokers (at least 1 cigarette per day), and 13 976 (34.7%)
were former smokers at the time of inclusion in CONSTANCES (eFigure in the
Supplement).

We focused on current smokers and former smokers who reported having quit
smoking from 2010 onward (the year that ECs were commercially introduced in
France; n = 2046). After excluding participants with no data on EC use (1023
current smokers and 21 former smokers), our final analytical sample comprised
5400 current smokers and 2025 former smokers with at least 1 year of follow-up
(mean [SD] follow-up of 2.6 [0.7] years for current smokers and 2.5 [0.6] years
for). First, among current smokers, we studied the association between EC use
and the number of cigarettes smoked as well as smoking cessation. Second, among
former smokers, we studied the association between EC use and smoking relapse.


VARIABLES

OUTCOMES

The 4 study outcomes examined are (1) the number of cigarettes smoked per day,
(2) the difference between the number of cigarettes smoked per day at baseline
and the number of cigarettes smoked per day at follow-up, (3) smoking cessation
among smokers (ie, 0 cigarettes per day in any year of follow-up), and (4)
cigarette smoking relapse among former smokers (≥1 cigarette per day reported on
any follow-up questionnaire).

EXPOSURE: EC USE

Participants reported current regular (daily) EC use (yes or no) (822 [15.2%]
smokers and 176 [8.7%] former smokers) and the date of initiation of regular EC
use, which made it possible to calculate the duration of regular EC use. For
each participant, we evaluated EC use prospectively, irrespective of the type of
device (rechargeable vs disposable; data on device type were not usable because
of missing data). Because data on motives for using EC were not collected, EC
use in our study is not restricted to only those who want to stop smoking. Among
the 822 smokers who used an EC during the study, 194 (23.6%) had started using
ECs prior to study baseline.

The duration of EC use has been shown to be associated with smoking cessation.35
In secondary analyses, we studied the association between the duration of EC use
(<1 year vs ≥1 year) and smoking patterns.


COVARIATES

Our statistical analyses controlled for covariates previously shown to be
associated with either tobacco cessation or EC use: sex, age,33 marital status
(single vs cohabiting or married), educational level36 (≤high school vs higher
education), employment status (employed, unemployed, or retired), citizenship
(non-French vs French), household income36 (<€1500 [$1694.50], €1500-€2799
[$1694.50-$3162], or≥€2800 [$3163] per month), financial difficulties (yes vs
no), alcohol abuse (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score), number of
cigarettes smoked per day at the time of inclusion,37 number of pack-years of
smoking (lifetime tobacco exposure; a pack-year is defined as 20 cigarettes
smoked every day for 1 year), depressive symptoms measured by the Center for
Epidemiologic Studies–Depression scale, lifetime history of depression (yes vs
no), respiratory problems in the preceding 12 months (yes vs no), lifetime
history of cardiovascular disease (yes vs no), and lifetime history of cancer
(yes vs no). In addition, we controlled for participants’ year of inclusion in
the CONSTANCES cohort, the duration of follow-up, and prior lifetime episodes of
smoking cessation37 (none, <1 year, or ≥1 year).


STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

To identify covariates associated with both the study exposure and the study
outcomes, we conducted univariate logistic and linear regression analyses. All P
values were from 2-sided tests and results were deemed statistically significant
at P < .05.

ASSOCIATION OF EC USE WITH SMOKING REDUCTION OR QUITTING

Among daily smokers, the association of EC use with the number of cigarettes
smoked per day with the difference in the number of cigarettes smoked per day
between baseline and follow-up was estimated using mixed linear models adjusted
for sociodemographic characteristics such as sex, age, marital status,
educational level, and income; substance use, including alcohol abuse; number of
cigarettes smoked per day; number of pack-years of smoking; and health
characteristics, such as depressive symptoms and respiratory problems. The
variables included in the final model were selected using the least absolute
shrinkage and selection operator method.38

To determine the likelihood of smoking cessation being associated with EC use,
we used Poisson regression models with robust sandwich variance estimators,
adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, duration of follow-up, and
previous smoking cessation attempts. This method was preferred to logistic
regression, for which the adjusted odds ratios would have overstated the
participants’ relative risk39 of quitting smoking (28% of smokers reported
quitting in any year of follow-up). Because the associations between EC use and
cigarette smoking can vary with individuals’ sex, age, duration of previous
smoking cessation attempts, and educational level, we additionally performed
analyses stratified on these characteristics.

ASSOCIATION OF EC USE WITH SMOKING RELAPSE IN FORMER SMOKERS

To test whether EC use is associated with later smoking relapse, we focused on
former smokers who quit tobacco in or after 2010, and we used Cox proportional
hazards regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics,
including sex, age, marital status, educational level, and income; alcohol use;
cigarette use; and health conditions, such as depressive symptoms and
respiratory problems. To estimate the time to event (relapse or regular
smoking), we calculated the number of months between the inclusion in the
CONSTANCES cohort and the follow-up questionnaire in which the participant
reported regular smoking. Among former smokers who did not relapse, data were
censored at the last follow-up questionnaire available. We verified the
proportional hazards assumption both graphically and statistically. Because the
level of EC use increased and because the devices used evolved over time, we
performed supplementary analyses, stratifying our sample on the year of smoking
cessation.

MISSING DATA AND MULTIPLE IMPUTATIONS

Overall, less than 2% of data were missing, except for data on number of
pack-years of smoking, which were unavailable for 718 of 7425 participants
(9.7%). Missing data on all covariates were imputed using multiple imputations
(10 imputations per missing value) with fully conditional specification.40 All
data analyses were conducted using SAS, version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc).


RESULTS


STUDY POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

In our study, smokers (n = 5400) were followed up for a mean (SD) period of 23.4
(9.3) months, during which 822 (15.2%) reported regular (daily) use of an EC. As
shown in Table 1, univariate analyses show that, compared with the 4578
nonusers, EC users were more likely to be male (423 [51.5%] vs 2071 [45.2%]),
older (mean [SD] age, 45.9 [11.6] vs 44.7 [12.5] years), and in a civil
partnership or married (403 [49.0%] vs 2142 [46.8%]) and were followed up for a
longer period (mean [SD], 26.2 [9.5] vs 22.9 [9.1] months). Electronic cigarette
users were heavier smokers (mean [SD], 12.9 [6.8] vs 10.0 [6.6] cigarettes per
day; 17.5 [14.1] vs 12.6 [12.1] pack-years of smoking) and were more likely to
have previously made an attempt to quit smoking (594 [72.3%] vs 3147 [68.7%]).
Electronic cigarette users were also more likely to have depressive symptoms
(mean [SD] Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression scale score, 14.1 [10.3]
vs 12.2 [9.5]), a history of depression (199 [24.2%] vs 911 [19.9%]), or
respiratory problems (646 [78.6%] vs 3116 [68.1%]).

TABLE 1. CHARACTERISTICS OF SMOKERS AND FORMER SMOKERS ACCORDING TO EC USE
STATUS, CONSTANCES COHORT STUDY, 2012-2017.

Characteristic Active Smokers at Study Baseline Former Smokers Since 2010 EC
Users (n = 822) Nonusers (n = 4578) P Value EC Users (n = 176) Nonusers
(n = 1849) P Value Sociodemographic characteristics Male sex, No. (%) 423 (51.5)
2071 (45.2) .001 111 (63.1) 910 (49.2) <.001 Age at inclusion period, mean (SD),
y 45.9 (11.6) 44.7 (12.5) .01 44.6 (10.6) 43.5 (12.2) .23 Duration of follow-up,
mean (SD), mo 26.2 (9.5) 22.9 (9.1) <.001 21.9 (8.9) 22.2 (8.6) .65 Marital
status: in a civil partnership or married, No. (%) 403 (49.0) 2142 (46.8) .02 94
(53.4) 1018 (55.1) .79 Educational level: no tertiary education, No. (%) 377
(45.9) 2092 (45.7) .93 63 (35.8) 682 (36.9) .77 Citizenship: non-French, No. (%)
14 (1.7) 117 (2.6) .29 2 (1.2) 38 (2.1) .26 Monthly household income: <€1500
[$1695], No. (%) 132 (16.1) 752 (16.4) .85 14 (8.0) 177 (9.6) .52 Financial
difficulties, No. (%) 269 (32.7) 1277 (27.9) .05 61 (34.7) 534 (28.9) .17
Alcohol and Tobacco use Alcohol abuse, No. (%)a 134 (16.4) 621 (13.6) .09 24
(13.6) 136 (7.4) .05 No. of cigarettes smoked at baseline, median (IQR) 11.0
(8-17) 10.0 (5-15) <.001 0 0 NA Cigarette pack-years, median (IQR)b 15.0 (7-25)
9.0 (4-18) <.001 14.5 (8-23) 9.0 (4-18) <.001 Made previous attempt to quit
smoking, No. (%) 594 (72.3) 3147 (68.7) .04 NA NA NA Stopped smoking during
follow-up, No. (%) 339 (41.2) 1180 (25.8) <.001 NA NA NA Relapsed smoking during
follow-up, No. (%) NA NA NA 55 (31.3) 297 (16.1) <.001 Health characteristics
Depressive symptoms (CES-D score), median (IQR) 12.0 (7-19) 10.0 (5-17) <.001
10.0 (5-17) 9.0 (5-15) .01 History of depression, No. (%) 199 (24.2) 911 (19.9)
.005 34 (19.4) 316 (17.3) .47 Respiratory problems, No. (%) 646 (78.6) 3116
(68.1) <.001 103 (58.5) 1035 (56.0) .52 History of cardiovascular problems, No.
(%) 137 (16.7) 655 (14.3) .07 23 (13.1) 272 (14.8) .55 History of cancer, No.
(%) 28 (3.4) 157 (3.4) .97 6 (3.4) 79 (4.3) .57

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Abbreviation: CES-D, Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression scale;
CONSTANCES, Consultants des Centres d’Examens de Santé; EC, electronic
cigarette; IQR, interquartile range; NA, not applicable.

a

Determined via Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score.

b

Lifetime tobacco exposure: a pack-year is defined as 20 cigarettes smoked every
day for 1 year.

Former smokers (n = 2025) were followed up for a mean (SD) period of 22.1 (8.6)
months, during which 176 (8.7%) reported regular EC use (Table 1). Electronic
cigarette users were more likely than the 1849 non-users to be male (111 [63.1%]
vs 910 [49.2%]), have higher levels of tobacco smoking (mean [SD], 16.9 [12.6]
vs 12.9 [13.7] pack-years) and lower levels of alcohol-related problems (mean
[SD] Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score, 16.9 [12.6] vs 12.9
[13.7]), as well as higher levels of depressive symptoms (mean [SD] Center for
Epidemiologic Studies–Depression scale score, 12.6 [9.8] vs 10.9 [8.6]).


EC USE AND LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN CIGARETTE SMOKING

In a univariate mixed linear model (Table 2), EC users smoked significantly more
cigarettes per day than nonusers (11.2 [95% CI, 10.8-11.7] vs 9.8 [95% CI,
9.6-10.0]). However, after controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, substance
use–related characteristics, and health characteristics, we found that the
estimated number of cigarettes smoked per day was significantly lower among EC
users than among nonusers (11.2 [95% CI, 10.5-11.8] vs 12.2 [95% CI,
11.6-12.8]). After adjustment for all covariates, EC users decreased the number
of cigarettes smoked significantly more during the course of follow-up than did
nonusers (–4.4 [95% CI, –4.8 to –3.9] vs –2.7 [95% CI, –3.1 to –2.4] cigarettes
per day).

TABLE 2. LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN CIGARETTE SMOKING AS A FUNCTION OF EC USE
CONSTANCES COHORT STUDY, 2012-2017A.

Analysis Estimate (95% CI) P Value EC Users (n = 822) Nonusers (n = 4578)
Univariate No. of cigarettes smoked per day, β 11.2 (10.8 to 11.7) 9.8 (9.6 to
10.0) <.001 Difference in No. of cigarettes per day between baseline and
follow-up, β −4.0 (−5.1 to −2.8) −1.8 (−2.9 to −0.7) <.001 Smoking cessation, RR
1.59 (1.45 to 1.76) 1 [Reference] <.001 Adjustedb No. of cigarettes smoked per
day, β 11.2 (10.5 to 11.8) 12.2 (11.6 to 12.8) <.001 Difference in No. of
cigarettes per day between baseline and follow-up, β −4.4 (−4.8 to −3.9) −2.7
(−3.1 to −2.4) <.001 Smoking cessation, RR 1.67 (1.51 to 1.84) 1 [Reference]
<.001

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Abbreviations: CONSTANCES, Consultants des Centres d’Examens de Santé; EC,
electronic cigarette; RR, relative risk.

a

Univariate and multivariate mixed linear and Poisson regression models with
robust variance.

b

Adjusted for age, sex, educational level, income, financial difficulties,
marital status, number of cigarettes smoked at baseline, number of pack-years of
smoking, duration of previous quit attempts, history of depression and
depression at baseline, and respiratory problems.


EC USE AND CIGARETTE SMOKING CESSATION

In both univariate and multivariate models, EC users were more likely to quit
smoking during follow-up compared with nonusers (univariate relative risk, 1.59
[95% CI, 1.45-1.76]; multivariate relative risk, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.51-1.84])
(Table 2). In additional analyses, this association was stronger among
participants who used ECs for more than 1 year (adjusted relative risk, 2.03
[95% CI, 1.82-2.27]) than among those who used ECs for less than 1 year
(adjusted relative risk, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.15-1.54]) (eTable 1 in the Supplement).
We found no statistical interaction between EC use and sex, age group, duration
of prior smoking cessation, or educational level (eTable 2 in the Supplement).


SMOKING RELAPSE IN FORMER SMOKERS

Overall, compared with former smokers who did not use ECs, those who did were
more likely to relapse to smoking (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.70 [95% CI,
1.25-2.30]) (Figure). This hazard ratio decreased with time from 1.70 (95% CI,
1.25-2.30) among persons who quit as of 2010 (n = 2025) to 0.94 (95% CI,
0.57-1.52) among persons who quit as of 2013 (n = 601) (Table 3).

FIGURE. TIME TO SMOKING RELAPSE ACCORDING TO CURRENT REGULAR ELECTRONIC
CIGARETTE (EC) USE AMONG FORMER SMOKERS (N = 2025), CONSTANCES COHORT STUDY,
2012-2017.



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The shaded area indicates 95% CIs. CONSTANCES indicates Consultants des Centres
d’Examens de Santé.

TABLE 3. MODELS FOR SMOKING RELAPSE AS A FUNCTION OF EC USE AMONG FORMER SMOKERS
WHO STOPPED SMOKING FROM 2010, CONSTANCES COHORT STUDY, 2012-2017.

Yeara Former Smokers, No. EC Users, No. (%) HR (95% CI)b P Value Univariate
model 2010 2025 176 (8.7) 2.34 (1.75-3.12) <.001 2011 1636 166 (10.1) 1.96
(1.45-2.64) <.001 2012 1176 149 (12.7) 1.39 (1.00-1.95) .05 2013 601 97 (16.1)
0.84 (0.53-1.33) .46 Adjusted modelc 2010 2025 176 (8.7) 1.70 (1.25-2.30) <.001
2011 1636 166 (10.1) 1.57 (1.15-2.16) .005 2012 1176 149 (12.7) 1.21 (0.85-1.72)
.29 2013 601 97 (16.1) 0.94 (0.57-1.52) .79

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Abbreviations: CONSTANCES, Consultants des Centres d’Examens de Santé; EC,
electronic cigarette; HR, hazard ratio.

a

Year when participants quit smoking (eg, 2012) corresponds to former smokers who
stopped smoking in 2012 or later (excluding those who stopped before 2012).

b

Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

c

Adjusted for age, sex, educational level, income, financial difficulties,
marital status, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score, number of
pack-years, number of cigarettes smoked before cessation, and year of smoking
cessation.


DISCUSSION


MAIN FINDINGS

Studying longitudinal associations between EC use and tobacco smoking patterns
in a large population-based cohort study, we found that EC use was associated
with a reduction in smoking level as well as an increased probability of smoking
cessation. However, we also observed that, over time, EC users who quit tobacco
tended to relapse to smoking more frequently than did nonusers. Thus, while EC
use can help persons reduce their smoking levels in the short term, there is no
evidence that it is an efficacious smoking cessation aid in the long term.


LIMITATIONS AND STRENGTHS

Our investigation has weaknesses that need to be acknowledged. First, our study
was not designed to test whether ECs are efficacious with regard to tobacco
smoking reduction. We had no information on the motives underlying EC use nor
the extent to which participants intended to quit smoking. Previous studies have
shown that the main reason for EC use among adults is the intention to reduce or
quit smoking30 and that ECs are the most used aid for smoking cessation in
France (no aid, 52%; ECs, 27%; NRT, 18%).12 Moreover, we controlled for previous
smoking cessation attempts, and our results are consistent with those of other
researchers who suggest that EC use is associated with an increase in the
reduction of tobacco consumption over time.32 Therefore, it is likely that,
among regular smokers, ECs primarily serve to help decrease tobacco use levels.

Second, participants’ nicotine dependence was not measured, but our analyses
controlled for the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the number of
pack-years of smoking, which can be considered as valid proxies.41 Similarly,
smoking was self-reported, which could induce bias, but such measures are
generally considered valid.42 Results of the Fagerström test for nicotine
dependence were also not available. Third, the mean duration of follow-up was 23
months, which is longer than in most previous studies, but it could be argued
that it should be even longer because smokers often need several quit attempts
before achieving successful long-term smoking cessation.43

Fourth, participants reported current EC use and the date of initiation, from
which we derived the duration of EC use. However, the daily frequency of EC use
(eg, number of puffs) was not documented. Previous studies have shown that
smoking cessation is primarily associated with extensive EC use.20,24 Similarly,
we were not able to evaluate EC users’ nicotine intake or examine whether it is
associated with smoking behavior. Most participants reported using ECs with
nicotine, but the information regarding the nicotine dosage of the e-liquid was
often missing. In future studies, it will be important to assess the frequency
of EC use and associated nicotine levels via questionnaires or other direct
means of data collection.

Despite these limitations, our study has important strengths. We assessed the
association between EC use and smoking among smokers and former smokers
prospectively in a large population sample, for approximately 2 years of
follow-up on average. We were able to take into consideration the duration of EC
use, which seems to play a role in smoking cessation. However, our main
contribution to the existing literature is the finding of an elevated rate of
smoking relapse among former smokers who use ECs.

Our results are in line with those of other studies showing that EC use can help
reduce tobacco smoking32,44,45 and encourage smoking cessation.23,25 The
decrease in tobacco consumption among smokers irrespective of EC use observed in
national surveys17 suggests that recent policies, such as the ban on smoking in
public places, the reimbursement for NRT, and the increase in the price of
tobacco products, have been successful. We found that smokers who used ECs
decreased their smoking significantly more than nonusers and that they had a
significantly higher probability of quitting smoking during follow-up. A recent
randomized clinical trial showed that, among smokers trying to quit smoking, EC
use was associated with a higher level of 1-year abstinence compared with NRT
(relative risk, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.30-2.58]; P < .001).25 Unfortunately, we had no
information on the reasons for EC use, but previous studies indicate that, in
France, 82% of smokers and 89% of former smokers who use ECs consider them an
aid to quit smoking or prevent a relapse.46 It would be interesting to further
explore whether this smoking reduction or cessation is observed mainly among
smokers who use ECs as a cessation tool or is observed also among those who use
ECs for other reasons. In additional analyses, we found that smoking cessation
was associated with duration of EC use, which is consistent with findings from
previous studies.35

Although the EC users in our study were more likely to be male, there were no
sex differences in the association between EC use and smoking cessation.
Previous research showed no sex differences47 or higher levels of smoking
cessation among men,48 but these studies were conducted prior to the
introduction of ECs. In particular, women are more likely than men to quit
smoking before the age of 50 years, while the opposite is true after 50 years.47
Because men and women have different patterns of use and expectancies regarding
ECs,49 future research should focus on possible sex differences with regard to
long-term patterns of smoking cessation.

Although EC use among smokers is associated with an increased probability of
attempts to quit smoking, its use by former smokers, on the other hand, is
linked to a higher likelihood of smoking relapse. This finding may be due to
higher nicotine dependency among EC users or the fact that EC use may contribute
to maintaining individuals’ levels of nicotine addiction over time. In
particular, in the case of technical problems with an EC (eg, low battery or
lack of e-liquid) or if an EC does not give the same pleasure as conventional
cigarettes,50,51,52 individuals may revert to smoking cigarettes.

However, levels of smoking relapse were not increased among former smokers who
quit in recent years. Measures of plasma nicotine levels have showed that,
compared with older models of ECs, the new generation delivers higher levels of
nicotine to the bloodstream.53,54 This finding may be an explanation as to why
smokers who recently quit smoking and switched to ECs are less likely to relapse
than those who quit earlier. Although we found a higher probability of relapse
among former smokers who used ECs than among nonusers, the question of whether
this difference could be associated with a shorter period of follow-up,
technical improvements in ECs over time, or a change in the profile of EC users
will need to be evaluated in future studies.


CONCLUSIONS

Among current smokers, EC use is associated with a decrease in the number of
cigarettes smoked and with an increase in cessation attempts, especially if EC
use lasts more than 1 year. However, among former smokers, EC use is associated
with a higher likelihood of relapse to smoking. Although EC use may help
individuals decrease smoking levels and initiate smoking cessation, it is not
clear whether it leads to complete long-term cessation.

Supplement.

eFigure. Flow Chart of CONSTANCES’s Cohort Study Participants Included in the
Analysis (2012-2017)

eTable 1. Smoking Cessation Among Smokers as a Function of EC Duration of Use,
Poisson Regression With Robust Variance: CONSTANCES Cohort Study, 2012-2017,
N = 5400 (Relative Risk, 95% CI)

eTable 2. Smoking Cessation in Relation to Patterns of Electronic Cigarette (EC)
Use and Individuals’ Characteristics, Poisson Regression With Robust Variance:
CONSTANCES Cohort Study, 2012-2017, N = 5400 (Relative Risk, 95% CI)

Click here for additional data file. (316.1KB, pdf)


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ASSOCIATED DATA

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or
supplementary materials included in this article.


SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Supplement.

eFigure. Flow Chart of CONSTANCES’s Cohort Study Participants Included in the
Analysis (2012-2017)

eTable 1. Smoking Cessation Among Smokers as a Function of EC Duration of Use,
Poisson Regression With Robust Variance: CONSTANCES Cohort Study, 2012-2017,
N = 5400 (Relative Risk, 95% CI)

eTable 2. Smoking Cessation in Relation to Patterns of Electronic Cigarette (EC)
Use and Individuals’ Characteristics, Poisson Regression With Robust Variance:
CONSTANCES Cohort Study, 2012-2017, N = 5400 (Relative Risk, 95% CI)

Click here for additional data file. (316.1KB, pdf)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Articles from JAMA Internal Medicine are provided here courtesy of American
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