Re: Just so I understand their complete ignorance of epidemiology
Reads as a review of what little evidence is available. And there seems to be a lack as authors point out.
"Only two of the included studies are randomized controlled trials and followed participants for at least six months. These provide the best evidence. The remaining 22 studies either did not follow participants for very long or did not put people into treatment groups so could not directly compare ECs with something else"
So little reliable data on effectiveness but "These [the 22] studies can tell us less about how ECs might help with quitting smoking but can tell us about short-term safety"
Notice words "short-term". Authors do say "categorical statements about the toxicity of ECs are not possible because of the large number of devices and fluids available and the frequent addition of new products to the market. However, among those brands of EC that have been tested, levels of toxins have been found to be substantially lower than in cigarettes, and are present at levels that are unlikely to represent a significant risk to health to either the user or to bystanders "
And this is the important element "Stopping smoking is associated with large health benefits". So long as giving up the cigs is better for you then vaping, then you personally are onto a winner.
Here's the full article
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub3/full
Biting the hand that feeds IT
