Summary of findings 5. Varenicline versus bupropion for smoking cessation.
| Varenicline versus bupropion for smoking cessation | ||||||
| Patient or population: people who smoke tobacco Setting: smoking cessation clinics, hospitals, universities and other research centres Intervention: varenicline Comparison: bupropion | ||||||
| Outcomes | Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI) | Relative effect (95% CI) | № of participants (studies) | Certainty of the evidence (GRADE) | Comments | |
| Risk with bupropion | Corresponding risk with varenicline | |||||
|
Smoking abstinence at longest follow‐up (6+ months) |
177 per 1000 |
241 per 1000 (222 to 264) |
RR 1.36 (1.25 to 1.49) |
7560 (9 studies) | ⊕⊕⊕⊕ High |
|
|
SAEs |
20 per 1000 |
18 per 1000 (12 to 27) |
RR 0.89 (0.61 to 1.31) |
5317 (5 studies) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝a Low |
|
|
Neuropsychiatric SAEs |
2 per 1000 |
2 per 1000 (0 to 16) |
RR 1.05 (0.16 to 7.04) |
866 (2 studies) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝a Low |
|
|
Cardiac SAEs |
0 per 1000 |
0 per 1000 (0 to 0) |
RR 3.17 (0.33 to 30.18) |
866 (2 studies) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝a Low |
|
| *The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). The assumed risk in the comparison group is calculated as the median risk in control groups. CI: confidence interval; RR: risk ratio; SAE: serious adverse event | ||||||
|
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High certainty: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect. Moderate certainty: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different. Low certainty: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited; the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect. Very low certainty: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate; the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect. | ||||||
aDowngraded two levels because of imprecision: CI incorporates clinically significant benefit and clinically significant harm.