Evaluation of varenicline as an aid to smoking cessation in UK general practice – a thin database study

Authors:
Betina T. Blak, Koo Wilson and Michael Metcalfe

Presenter:
Koo Wilson
Director, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Pfizer Ltd, Tadworth, UK

Abstract
Aims: The study was designed to assess the usage of varenicline in a UK General Practice setting.

Methods: The main outcome measure was the rate of smoking cessation, (7-day point prevalence) after 6 months. Varenicline users were identified from records in The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database. A questionnaire on smoking cessation was sent to patients who commenced treatment close to the selection date.

Results: The response rate was 26.4%: 193 responses were received. Ninety percent had previously attempted to stop smoking and 87.4% had used nicotine replacement therapy during the previous attempt to stop smoking. The overall smoking cessation rate was 49.5%. Duration of varenicline treatment was strongly associated with smoking cessation. Patients who reported using varenicline for 9 – 12 weeks were 11 times more likely to stop smoking than those who completed less than two weeks of treatment. There was some evidence that patients with a longer history of smoking were less likely to stop.
No association was observed between smoking cessation and: previous number of cigarettes smoked per day; number of previous attempts to stop smoking; or motivations for stopping.

Conclusions: Varenicline appears to be a useful pharmacological aid to smoking cessation in a general practice setting.

Source of funding: The study was conducted by EPIC Database Research, Cegedim Strategic Data and funded by Pfizer Ltd.