title: Effectiveness of varenicline as an aid to smoking cessation in primary care: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although varenicline is commonly prescribed in primary care, information on smoking-related comorbidities and the effectiveness of varenicline in this context in Germany is scarce. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of varenicline in a large sample of patients seeking smoking cessation treatment through their general practitioners. The frequency of comorbidities was also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a 12-week, prospective, observational, non-comparative phase IV trial conducted in Germany. Abstinence rates at week 12 were evaluated by verbal reporting using the nicotine use inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1,391 subjects were enrolled; 1,177 received study medication and were evaluated for effectiveness and safety. At the end of the study, 71.1% (95% confidence interval 68.5-73.7) of subjects were abstinent. There were a total of 205 all-causality adverse events; 2.2% were classified as serious or severe. There were no fatal adverse events. At inclusion, 66.7% of participants had at least 1 concurrent comorbidity, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (35.5%), hypertension (29.6%) and depression (10.4%) being the most commonly reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These real-world data indicate that varenicline is an effective and well-tolerated smoking cessation treatment when used in the primary care setting including patients with smoking-related comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: Lungenfachklinik Immenhausen, Krs. Kassel and Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. stefan.andreas@med.uni-goettingen.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andreas
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chenot
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diebold
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peachey
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019370:Observation / Q000379:methods; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000068580:Varenicline
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D000068580:Varenicline