Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Mar 26, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Mar 26, 2025 - May 21, 2025
Date Accepted: Jun 2, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Vascular and Cardiovascular Outcomes of Smoking Cessation and Switching to Electronic Cigarettes Use: Protocol for a systematic review of prospective studies
ABSTRACT
Background:
Despite the well-documented adverse health effects of tobacco smoking, it remains prevalent worldwide. Chronic tobacco smoking is associated with significant cardiovascular effects, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and vascular dysfunction. In recent years, the use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) has increased, with many former tobacco cigarette (TC) smokers switching to ECs to aid in smoking cessation. However, the long-term effects of switching to EC nor its exclusive use on vascular function indices remain unclear.
Objective:
This systematic review aims to summarize the current literature on the vascular effects of switching to exclusive EC use and the overall effects of smoking cessation on regular TC smokers. The review will focus on measures of vascular function, heart rate, blood pressure, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, sudden cardiovascular death and acute heart failure.
Methods:
The review will be conducted following the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed and Scopus, without restrictions on publication date. Studies will be included if they focus on cardiovascular outcomes, with study designs including clinical trials (RCTs, observational studies), prospective cohort studies, and case-control studies. Studies involving regular smokers, aged 18 and over, and those reporting on smoking cessation or switching to ECs will be considered. Data will be extracted using a standardized form and synthesized qualitatively.
Results:
As of January 2025, the literature search has been completed with 1,479 records retrieved across PubMed and Scopus. Abstract screening is ongoing, with secondary searches yet to be conducted. The target completion date for the review is set for July 2025.
Conclusions:
This review will provide a comprehensive landscape of current literature on the vascular effects of smoking cessation and switching to exclusive EC use. The findings will help identify gaps in the current evidence base and inform future research directions. By disseminating the results through peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and digital platforms, the review aims to enhance understanding of smoking cessation’s impact on vascular health and support public health efforts in reducing tobacco-related harm. Clinical Trial: PROSPERO: CRD420251016878
Citation
Per the author's request the PDF is not available.
Copyright
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