How do effects of active nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) differ across different genetic biomarkers for people trying to quit smoking?

Abstract

For people trying to quit smoking, NRT may be more beneficial for some genetic subgroups like rs1051730, NMR, rs588765, or DRD4 (exon 3 48 bp), although the increase in absolute numbers of people quitting is low for all subgroups.The effects of NRT differ across different genetic biomarkers for people trying to quit smoking. Moderate‐certainty evidence indicates a positive effect of NRTs on six‐month and end of treatment abstinence for rs1051730 non‐Hispanic white people (differences of 101 and 117 per 1000 people, respectively; all results on average), on nicotine/metabolite ratio (NMR) subgroups (differences of 64 and 87 per 1000 people), and on end of treatment abstinence for rs16969968 and rs588765 non‐Hispanic white people (differences of 99 and 72 per 1000 people, respectively).Low‐certainty evidence suggests a more positive effect of NRTs for the DRD4 (exon 3 48 bp) non‐Hispanic white subgroup on six‐month abstinence (difference of 61 per 1000 people). Low‐ to moderate‐certainty evidence yielded imprecise results for abstinence at six months and at end of treatment for rs16969968 and rs2036527 subgroups. The reviewers did not assess adverse events.