Pharmacological treatments for smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
| Intervention | First author [ref.] | Subjects | Design | Duration | Outcome quit rate % | Statistical significance? |
| Nicotine replacement therapy | Tønnesen [47] | 370 smokers with COPD | NST/placebo, low CBT/high CBT | 12 weeks | At 12 months: NST 17%; placebo 10% No difference between high or low CBT | Yes OR 2.88 (1.34–6.16) |
| Bupropion (BP) and nortriptyline (NT) | Tashkin [48] | 404 smokers with COPD | BP/placebo | 12 weeks | At 6 months: BP 16%; placebo 9% | Yes p<0.005 |
| Wagena [49] | 255 smokers at risk of or with COPD | BP/NT/placebo | 12 weeks | At 6 months: BP 28%; NT 25%; placebo 15% | Yes for BP versus placebo No for NT versus placebo | |
| Van Schayck [50] | 255 smokers at risk of or with COPD | BP/NT/placebo | 12 weeks | At 12 months: BP 20.9%; NT 20%; placebo 13.5% | No | |
| Varenicline (VRN) | Tashkin [51] | 504 smokers with COPD | VRN/placebo | 12 weeks | At 12 months: VRN 18.6%; placebo 5.6% | Yes OR 4.04 (2.13–7.67) |
The table only shows randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. All studies, but Van Schayck et al. [50], assessed cessation by measuring CO in expired air. Van Schayck et al. [50] assessed cessation by measuring urinary cotinine. NST: nicotine sublingual tablets; CBT: cognitive behavioural therapy.