Monitoring the transitioning from cigarette smoking to electronic cigarette use on cardiovascular outcomes, psychometric parameters and relapse rate

Aim To monitor how switching to e-cigarettes from cigarette smoking affects psychometric and clinical parameters and relapse rate over a period of 4 weeks. Methods Heavy smokers (≥10cig/day) attended 6 visits where psychometric parameters associated with craving, nicotine withdrawal symptoms, sleep and quality of life were monitored using well validated questionnaires. Heart rate and blood pressure were also measured at each visit. Visit 1 and 2 were baseline visits where smokers continued to smoke and then asked to quit and transition to e-cigarette use. The subsequent visits occurred 3, 7, 21 and 28 days after the quit date. Compliance was monitored via exhaled CO. Completed participants received weekly questionnaires for 12 months and two follow up calls 6 and 12 months after their final visit to monitor for relapse. Results One month relapse rate amongst eligible participants (n=29) was 28%. At 6 months (n=5), 40% used either e-cigarettes or nothing (non-relapsers) and 60% partially relapsed or were dual users. Repeated measures One-Way ANOVA(n=20) showed a significant effect for parameters: ‘irritability’ (p