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Sympathovagal Balance in Smoking Cessation

Alterations in the Autonomic Nervous System During Smoking Quit Attempts- Possible Effects of Pharmacological Interventions

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01474265
Enrollment
85
Registered
2011-11-18
Start date
2011-11-30
Completion date
2013-04-30
Last updated
2017-10-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Smoking Cessation

Keywords

smoking cessation, varenicline, sympathovagal balance, quit attempts, MSNA

Brief summary

This study has the following primary aim: \- the main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of smoking cessation during quit attempts on sympathovagal balance. These effects will be observed in smokers quitting smoking with pharmacological support or without. Secondary aims of this study are also: * the definition of MSNA in smokers and non-smokers * the investigation of other parameters concerning the autonomic nervous system, like baroreflex-sensitivity, heart rate-variability before and during the quit attempt. * the definition of withdrawal symptoms and craving before, during and after the quit attempt. * the investigation of effects of smoking cues on craving and sympathovagal balance * the investigation of relapse rates after smoking cessation in correlation with the parameters mentioned above.

Interventions

DRUGVarenicline

0.5-2 mg per day, oral use

DRUGPlacebo

1-2 tablets per day, oral use

DRUGNicorette TX

10-15 mg per day, transdermal use (patches)

Sponsors

University Medical Center Goettingen
CollaboratorOTHER
Institut fuer anwendungsorientierte Forschung und klinische Studien GmbH
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Men and Women at the age of 25 to 60 years. * Group A-D: Smokers willing to quit smoking and a FTNA-result \>5. * Group E: Never-smokers. * Signed consent after information.

Exclusion criteria

* formerly known hypersensitivity against one of the used pharmacological interventions or structurally similar drugs or against one of the ingredients. * participation in another study during this study or within 4 weeks prior to this study. * Addiction or other circumstances that prevent the patient from estimating the study and the consequences. * Pregnancy and breast-feeding * women with childbearing potential, except women that fulfill the following criteria: * post menopause * postoperative (6 weeks after both-sides ovariectomy with or without hysterectomy) * regular and correct use of prevention methods (error-rate \<1% a year), e.g. implants, depot injections, oral contraceptives, IUP) * sexual abstinence * signs that predict a possible non-compliance of the patient * exclusion because of nicorette tx: * psoriasis, dermatitis, urticaria * exclusion because of varenicline * creatinine-clearance \< 30ml/min * epilepsy * psychiatric diseases (schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, depression). * Exclusion because of methods * Diseases that increase the sympathetic level (Heart insufficiency, high blood pressure (arteria /pulmonary), obstructive sleeping apnoea, COPD) * cardiac rhythm disturbances * myocardial infarction within the last 8 weeks * polyneuropathy * diseases that come along with damages of peripheral nerves * severe or life-threatening diseases (e.g. cancer with life-expectancy \< 5 years, terminal kidney-insufficiency) * treatment with antihypertensive drugs or sympathomimetic substances (e.g.theophyllin) or smoking cessation medication (NRT, Varenicline) * Other reasons, that make a patient not suitable for the study (estimation of primary investigator)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Assessment of muscular sympathic nervous activity (MSNA) in bursts / 100 heart beats before and while smoking cessation.33 weeksPatients present 7 weeks before their personal smoking-stop-day and participate in the study until week 26 after their personal smoking-stop-day. During that time, MSNA is recorded.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Assessment of the basal sympathetic nerve activity in smokers compared to never-smokers33 weeksfirst MSNA is carried out 4 weeks before smoking-stop-day (respectively 6 weeks for group D). second and last MSNA is carried out two days after smoking-stop-day (respectively 2 weeks before smoking-stop-day for group D)
Assessment of craving and withdrawal symptoms during smoking cessation33 weekswithdrawal symptoms data is collected by phone calls 3,2,1 days before smoking-stop-day, the day itself and 1 day and 11 (12 for group C and D) weeks after smoking-stop-day. Also the withdrawal symptoms date is collected during each personal examination (means - Pre-Examination, Baseline, Follow I to III). The data will be collected by reliable questionnaires
Assessment of smoking cues on craving and sympathovagal balance33 weekssmoking cues will be presented on the first follow-up-measurement to members of group A-D.
Assessment of smoking relapse rate33 weeksAll relapses will be registered to correlate them with the obtained parameters (baroreflex-sensitivity, heartrate-variabilty, MSNA, questionnaires)

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026