Nicotine replacement therapy for long-term smoking cessation: a meta-analysis

Objective

To assess if the effect of a single treatment episode with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) enhances smoking cessation over many years.

Data sources

Meta‐analysis of all randomised controlled trials of NRT with final follow‐up more than one year after the start of treatment. Twelve eligible trials were identified, all placebo‐controlled, having final follow‐ups ranging from 2–8 years. All had earlier follow‐ups at 12 months. They comprised 2408 active and 2384 placebo treatment participants.

Data synthesis

The odds ratio (OR) in favour of NRT at final follow‐up was 1.99 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50 to 2.64). There was no evidence that the effect varied according to length of final follow‐up (β  =  0.92, p  =  0.28) or duration of initial NRT treatment (β  =  0.99, p > 0.5). The overall relapse rate between the 12 months and final follow‐up was 30.0% (95% CI 23.5% to 37.5%). This rate did not differ between NRT and control groups (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.59), or length of initial NRT treatment. There was also no evidence that it varied according to length of final follow up. Due to relapse, the overall efficacy of NRT treatment in terms of additional ex‐smokers declined from 10.7% over and above placebo (6.6% to 14.8%) after one year to 7.2% (3.8% to 11.3%) at an average of 4.3 years follow up.

Conclusions

The relative efficacy of a single course of NRT remains constant over many years. The majority of relapse after 12 months occurs within the first or second year and is not detectable thereafter, suggesting that NRT has a permanent effect on smoking cessation. However, initial relapse after one year has the effect of diminishing the number of ex‐smokers that can be ultimately attributed to NRT. Results after only 6–12 months of follow‐up, as used in existing reviews and treatment guidelines, will overestimate the lifetime benefit and cost‐efficacy of NRT by about 30%. Because the long‐term benefit of NRT is modest, tobacco dependence treatment might be better viewed as a chronic disorder, requiring repeated episodes of treatment.