The smoking cessation efficacy of varying doses of nicotine patch deliverysystems 4 to 5 years post-quit day

Background. This study was undertaken to evaluate the long-term smoking ces sation efficacy of varying doses of transdermal nicotine delivery systems 4 to 5 years post-quit day. Methods. A follow-up study was conducted 48 to 62 months after quit day amo ng patients who were enrolled in the Transdermal Nicotine Study Group inves tigation. The latter study included group smoking cessation counseling and randomized assignment to 21, 14, or 7 mg nicotine patches or placebo patche s. Seven of nine smoking cessation research centers participated in the lon g term follow-up investigation. Results. The self-reported continuous quit rate among patients originally a ssigned 21 mg (20.2%) was significantly higher than rates for patients assi gned 14 mg (10.4%), 7 mg (11.8%), or placebo patches (7.4%). Log rank survi val analysis found no difference in relapse rates after I year postcessatio n. Smokers under age 30 years were significantly less likely to be abstinen t at long term follow-up compared to smokers greater than or equal to 30 ye ars of age (3 vs 13%, respectively). Mean weight gain in confirmed continuo us quitters was 10.1 kg in men and 8.0 kg in women. Of the 63 continuous ab stainers surveyed, 30 respondents (48%) reported that they no longer craved cigarettes, and no individual reported daily craving for cigarettes. Conclusions. Nicotine patch therapy with 21 mg/day patches resulted in a si gnificantly higher long-term continuous abstinence rate compared to lower d ose patches and placebo. Relapse rates among the various treatment conditio ns were similar after 1 year postcessation. (C) 1999 American Health Founda tion and Academic Press.