The ESTxENDS Trial- Substudy on the Metabolic Effects of Using Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS/Vaporizer/E-cig)

Summary

--\> This is a substudy of the main ESTxENDS trial (NCT03589989). Metabolic outcomes should be considered secondary outcomes of the main smoking cessation outcome formulated in NCT03589989.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of death in cigarette smokers; quitting smoking is associated with reduced CVD. Cigarette smoking increases CVD through complex mechanisms, mostly on an increase in atherosclerosis and the effect appears unrelated to nicotine. Recently, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS; also called vaporizer or electronic cigarette) have become popular with smokers who want to stop smoking. There is currently no evidence that ENDS use affects CVD outcomes. The nicotine contained in the e-liquids from ENDS has cardiovascular effects and the evidence about health effects mostly comes from studies on nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). These studies did not show an increased risk of CVD from NRTs. The ECLAT trial showed no difference in body weight, resting heart rate, or blood pressure between those who used ENDS or not. Two studies evaluated the short-term effects of ENDS on the cardiovascular system. One study suggested impairment in diastolic ventricular function with cigarettes and not with ENDS. Both ENDS and cigarettes increased diastolic blood pressure, potentially mediated through nicotine exposure, but an increased systolic blood pressure was found only in cigarette smokers. Other studies have suggested no changes in blood pressure in daily users of electronic cigarettes up to 1 year with some even a reduction in blood pressure among patients with hypertension. Interventions helping smokers quit have shown that quitting is associated with increased HDL-cholesterol, weight gain, higher blood glucose, and higher diabetes risk. No large randomized trials have tested the effect of ENDS on blood cholesterol and other markers of cardiovascular risk.

This study will therefore test the efficacy of ENDS for cigarette smoking cessation, the safety of ENDS on adverse events and the effect of ENDS on health-related outcomes and exposure to inhaled chemicals.

For the main ESTxENDS trial (NCT03589989), smokers motivated to quit smoking cigarettes will be included. Participants in the intervention group will receive an ENDS and nicotine-containing e-liquids, which they will be allowed to use ad libitum. Additionally, they will receive smoking cessation counseling. Participants in the control group will receive smoking cessation counseling only. All participants will be followed over a 24-month period. Measurements of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases will be done at baseline and at 6, 12 and 24 months' follow-up.

Conditions

• Smoking Cessation
• Cardiovascular Diseases

Interventions

OTHER

ENDS (vaporizer/e-cig) and smoking cessation counseling

Participants in the intervention group will receive an ENDS and nicotine-containing e-liquids, which they will be allowed to use ad libitum. Additionally, they will receive smoking cessation counseling. Participants will be allowed to additionally use nicotine replacement therapy. All participants will be followed over a 24-month period. Smoking cessation counseling will be provided in person at the first clinical visit and then over the phone at the target quit date one week later and again at week 2, 4 and 8 after the target quit date. After 6, 12 and 24 months, participants will be asked to come to a clinical visit.

OTHER

Smoking cessation counseling

Participants in the control group will receive smoking cessation counseling only. Participants will be allowed to additionally use nicotine replacement therapy. All participants will be followed over a 24-month period. Smoking cessation counseling will be provided in person at the first clinical visit and then over the phone at the target quit date one week later and again at week 2, 4 and 8 after the target quit date. After 6, 12 and 24 months, participants will be asked to come to a clinical visit.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lausanne

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Geneva, Switzerland

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Zurich

  collaborator OTHER

• State Hospital, St. Gallen

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Swiss National Science Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Krebsforschung Schweiz, Bern, Switzerland

  collaborator OTHER

• Federal Office of Public Health, Switzerland

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of Bern

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Reto Auer, Prof.Dr.med · Berner Institut für Hausarztmedizin; Universität Bern

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-07-16

Primary Completion

2023-08-31

Completion

2023-08-31

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations