E-Cigarettes Aid Pregnant Smokers’ Quitting, Pose No Risk
A recent study conducted by researchers from several prestigious institutions has revealed that e-cigarettes can effectively help pregnant smokers quit without posing any detectable risks to pregnancy. The study, known as the PREP 2 study, analyzed data collected from over 1100 pregnant smokers attending hospitals in England and a stop-smoking service in Scotland.
The study compared pregnancy outcomes in women who used nicotine in the form of e-cigarettes or nicotine patches regularly during their pregnancy with those who did not use any form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The researchers collected measurements of salivary cotinine levels and gathered information about smoking habits, respiratory symptoms, and the birth weight of the participants’ babies.
The findings, published in the Addiction Journal, showed that e-cigarettes were more commonly used than nicotine patches among the participants (47% versus 21%). Women who smoked and used nicotine replacement products during their pregnancy had babies with similar birth weights to women who only smoked, while babies born to women who did not smoke during pregnancy did not show any differences in birth weight, regardless of their use of nicotine products. The regular use of nicotine products was not associated with any adverse effects in mothers or their babies.
Lead researcher Professor Peter Hajek from Queen Mary University of London emphasized the significance of the trial’s results. He stated, Using nicotine-containing aids to stop smoking in pregnancy appears to be safe. The harms to pregnancy from smoking seem to be due to other chemicals in tobacco smoke rather than nicotine itself.
The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), involved researchers from Queen Mary University of London, University of New South Wales, University of Nottingham, St George’s University of London, University of Stirling, University of Edinburgh, King’s College London, and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The results of this study provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and safety of e-cigarettes as a tool for pregnant smokers who want to quit. With e-cigarettes being more commonly used than nicotine patches in this study, it suggests that e-cigarettes may be a preferred option for pregnant women who want to break free from the harmful effects of smoking. Further research is needed to better understand how e-cigarettes can be incorporated into smoking cessation programs for pregnant smokers.
Overall, this study highlights the potential benefits of e-cigarettes in aiding pregnant smokers to quit while posing no detectable risks to pregnancy. The findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of nicotine-containing aids in smoking cessation efforts during pregnancy. By providing safer alternatives, healthcare professionals can better support pregnant women in their journey towards a smoke-free life, ultimately improving the health outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
Note: This material is based on a press release from the originating organization/author(s) and may have been edited for clarity, style, and length.
