Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41021918›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2025

Vascular and Cardiovascular Outcomes of Smoking Cessation and Switching to Electronic Cigarette Use: Protocol for a Systematic Review of Prospective Studies.

Giusy Rita Maria La Rosa, Jacqueline Yu, Giulio Geraci, Davide Capodanno, Takao Ohki, Jacob George, Riccardo Polosa

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Giusy Rita Maria La Rosa *Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5127-5299
Jacqueline Yu *University of Dundee Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom.ORCID 0009-0002-6239-751X
Giulio GeraciFaculty of Medicine and Surgery, Kore University of Enna, Enna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3806-1151
Davide CapodannoAzienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico "Gaspare Rodolico-San Marco", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5156-7723
Takao OhkiDepartment of Surgery, Jikei University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID 0009-0008-3669-1508
Jacob GeorgeUniversity of Dundee Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-8154-8278
Riccardo PolosaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8450-5721

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite 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 smokers switching to ECs to aid in smoking cessation. To date, no systematic review has synthesized prospective evidence on key vascular and cardiovascular outcomes among adult smokers who quit or switch to ECs, with the specific aim of identifying early and clinically meaningful indicators of vascular recovery.

objectiveThis systematic review aims to summarize the current prospective studies on the vascular effects of switching to exclusive EC use and the overall effects of smoking cessation on regular tobacco cigarette smokers. The review will focus, in particular, on early indicators of vascular improvement, such as measures of vascular function, including arterial stiffness and endothelial function, as well as on heart rate, blood pressure, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, sudden cardiovascular death, and acute heart failure.

methodsThe review will be reported following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed and Scopus on January 12, 2025, without restrictions on the publication date. Studies will be included if they focus on cardiovascular outcomes, with study designs, including clinical trials (randomized controlled trials, observational studies), prospective cohort studies, and case-control studies. Studies involving regular smokers, aged 18 years and older, and those reporting on smoking cessation or switching to ECs will be considered. Data will be extracted using a standardized form and synthesized qualitatively. Risk of bias will be assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tools, with results informing sensitivity analyses and interpretation.

resultsAs of January 2025, the preliminary search retrieved 1479 records across PubMed and Scopus. At the time of this protocol's publication, the first manuscript on vascular function outcomes was completed in July 2025 and is currently under peer review. Each subsequent review will include an updated search before completion.

conclusionsThis review will provide a comprehensive landscape of current literature on the long-term vascular effects of smoking cessation and switching to exclusive EC use. The findings will help identify early indicators of vascular damage reversal, 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 the understanding of smoking cessation's impact on vascular health and support public health efforts in reducing tobacco-related harm.

trial registrationPROSPERO CRD420251016878; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251016878. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/74949.

Indexed as

Cardiovascular DiseasesElectronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsSmoking CessationAdultHumansProspective StudiesResearch DesignSystematic Reviews as Topiccardiovascular diseasee-cigarettessmoking cessationstrokevascular function

Identifiers

PMID41021918
PMCPMC12519031

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.