title: Fifty-two-week continuous abstinence rates of smokers being treated with varenicline versus nicotine replacement therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cross-study comparisons of effect sizes suggest that varenicline is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in aiding smoking cessation, but evidence from direct comparisons is limited. This study compared biochemically verified 52-week sustained abstinence rates in smokers attending the same clinical service according to whether they used varenicline or NRT in their quit attempt.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study of 855 smokers attending a large smoking cessation clinic who used their choice of NRT product or varenicline in their quit attempt. All received the same behavioural support programme and chose their medication option (n = 519 varenicline; n = 336 NRT). The primary outcome measure was self-report of 52 weeks' abstinence following the target quit date confirmed by expired air carbon monoxide concentration. Baseline measures included socio-demographic variables, mental health diagnoses, measures of smoking, cigarette dependence and past use of NRT or varenicline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 52-week abstinence rates were 42.8% versus 31.0% in those using varenicline versus NRT, respectively (P < 0.001). After adjusting for all baseline variables, the odds of remaining abstinent for 52 weeks were 2.03 (95% CI 1.46-2.82), P < 0.001 times higher in those using varenicline than those using NRT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smokers in the same behavioural support programme who use varenicline appear to have a greater probability of achieving long-term abstinence than those using their choice of nicotine replacement therapy options, even after adjusting for potentially confounding smoker characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tobacco-Dependence of the 3rd Medical Department-Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Praha 2, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kralikova
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kmetova
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stepankova
authors.forename: Kamila
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zvolska
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D001552:Benzazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001944:Breath Tests; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000068580:Varenicline
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D000068580:Varenicline
keywords: NRT; smoking cessation; varenicline