Circulation
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Meta Analysis
Cardiovascular events associated with smoking cessation pharmacotherapies: a network meta-analysis.
Stopping smoking is associated with many important improvements in health and quality of life. The use of cessation medications is recommended to increase the likelihood of quitting. However, there is historical and renewed concern that smoking cessation therapies may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease events associated within the quitting period. We aimed to examine whether the 3 licensed smoking cessation therapies-nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, and varenicline-were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease events using a network meta-analysis. ⋯ Smoking cessation therapies do not appear to raise the risk of serious cardiovascular disease events.