| Study / Review | Year | Key Finding | Relationship to Cochrane 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochrane Living Review (previous update) | 2024 | Moderate-certainty evidence: vapes beat NRT | Upgraded to high-certainty with new RCT data |
| Penn State RCT (JAMA Network Open) | May 2026 | Daily smokers using nicotine vapes were 3x more likely to quit in 6 weeks vs non-nicotine vape | Individual study incorporated into Cochrane pooled analysis |
| National Academies report | 2018 | Conclusive evidence: vapes expose users to fewer toxicants than cigarettes | Contextualizes short-term safety, not cessation |
| Ling & Glantz critique | 2026 | Argues e-cigarettes increase net harm, should be discouraged | Counter-perspective using population modeling, not RCT data |
"There is now high-certainty evidence that people are more likely to stop smoking for at least six months using nicotine e-cigarettes than using nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches and gums."
— Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group, August 2026 update
"For people who smoke and haven't been able to quit using approved medications, this research suggests that switching to a nicotine e-cigarette could be a viable alternative."
— Penn State College of Medicine, May 2026 (study published in JAMA Network Open)
