Smokers making a quit attempt using e-cigarettes with or without nicotine or prescription nicotine replacement therapy: Impact on cardiovascular function (ISME-NRT) - a study protocol

Abstract

BackgroundThe estimated number of cigarette smokers in the world is 1.3 billion, expected to rise to 1.7 billion by 2025, with 10 million smokers living in the U.K. Smoking is the leading, preventable death-cause worldwide, being responsible for almost 650,000 deaths in the E.U. annually. A combination of pharmacological interventions, including nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion and varenicline, and behavioural support is the most effective approach to smoking cessation. However, even the best methods have high relapse rates of approximately 75% within 6 months. Electronic (or “e-“) cigarettes use battery power to disperse a solution that usually contains propylene glycol or glycerine, water, flavouring and nicotine. E-cigarettes have become the most popular smoking cessation aid in England, however, information on their effects on cardiovascular function is limited and contradictory. As e-cigarettes are not solely nicotine-based products, existing research exploring the effects of nicotine on the cardio-vasculature provides only limited information, while their extensive uptake urges the need of evidence to inform the general public, smokers and policy-makers.MethodsThis is a pragmatic, 3-group, randomised, assessor-blinded, single-centre trial exploring the cardiovascular physiological effects of the use of e-cigarettes (nicotine-free and nicotine-inclusive, assessed separately) combined with behavioural support as a smoking cessation method in comparison to the combination of NRT and behavioural support. The primary outcome will be macro-vascular function, determined by a Flow Mediated Dilatation ultrasound assessment, 6 months following participants’ “quit date”.DiscussionParticipants will be assessed at baseline, 3 days following their self-determined “quit date”, at intervention end (3 months) and 6 months following their “quite date”. Findings are expected to give an indication of the cardiovascular effects of e-cigarettes both in the short- and in the medium-term period, informing the general public, policy holders and researchers, helping to define the future role of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT03061253. Registered 17th February 2017.

The Association Between Cardiovascular Function, Measured as FMD and CVC, and Long-Term Aquatic Exercise in Older Adults (ACELA Study): A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Nevertheless, this observational data could help the current debate about the cardiovascular effects of aquatic exercise in older groups, particularly as our study, avoiding high-intensity interval training exercise, focuses on the where the exercise regime takes place. Although microcirculation is considered as an important element of our circulatory system (Klonizakis et al, 2017), it is often overlooked, when designing and executing studies exploring the CVD-risk reduction properties of different interventions. This is an incorrect approach, as it is now accepted that pathological changes in the microcirculation mirror (Debbabi et al, 2010) if not precede (Lenasi, 2016) changes in arteries, therefore, making it the most appropriate region to study, to facilitate early detection.…”

“…(a) Anthropometry: Stature, body mass, body fat (In Body 720, In Body Co., Seoul, South Korea), waist and hip circumferences were measured (Klonizakis et al, 2017). Waist circumference was measured with the participant standing with feet together, and the tape measure placed around the narrowest part of the torso, between the umbilicus and the xyphoid process.…”

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Medical Resource Consumption and Quality of Life in Peripheral Arterial Disease in Korea: PAD Outcomes (PADO) Research

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Cigarrillo electrónico y otros sistemas electrónicos de liberación de nicotinarevisión de evidencias sobre un tema controversial

“…Los autores concluyen que los CE son más efectivos que la TRN para dejar de fumar cuando ambas estrategias se combinan con apoyo psicoconductual. Existen otros estudios en curso donde se combina CE con vareniclina o con TRN, cuyos resultados aún no están disponibles (37,38) . Un resumen de los estudios clínicos de CE se muestra en la tabla 1.…”