Effectiveness of Varenicline as an Aid to Smoking Cessation in Primary Care: An Observational Study

• Published in: European addiction research 2013-01, Vol.19 (1), p.47-54
• Main Authors: Andreas, Stefan, Chenot, Jean-François, Diebold, Ruth, Peachey, Sarah, Mann, Karl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Benzazepines - adverse effects; Benzazepines - therapeutic use; Clinical trials; Comorbidity; Depression - epidemiology; Female; Germany - epidemiology; Humans; Hypertension - epidemiology; Incidence; Lung Diseases, Obstructive - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Nicotine; Nicotinic Agonists - adverse effects; Nicotinic Agonists - therapeutic use; Observation - methods; Primary care; Primary Health Care - methods; Primary Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Quinoxalines - adverse effects; Quinoxalines - therapeutic use; Research Report; Smoking cessation; Smoking Cessation - methods; Substance abuse treatment; Tobacco Use Cessation Products - adverse effects; Tobacco Use Disorder - drug therapy; Tobacco Use Disorder - epidemiology; Varenicline
• ISSN: 1022-6877; 1421-9891
• DOI: 10.1159/000341638

Aims: 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. Conclusion: 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.