Nicotine mediates smoking's addictive effects in the brain. The ratio of 3-hydroxycotinine to cotinine, known as the nicotine metabolite ratio, or NMR, is a genetically- informed biomarker reflecting hepatic CYP2A6 activity and the rate of nicotine metabolism. In light of a recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) in humans in Lancet Respiratory Medicine, which found that the NMR can be used to individualize treatment for smokers, our pilot study aims to determine the feasibility of using NMR to guide selection of pharmacotherapy in clinical populations of daily smokers.
Consenting participants will be assigned to guideline-based care (GBC: incorporating national guidelines and more recent evidence from clinical trials of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation) or metabolism-informed care (MIC: identical to GBC but selection of medication based on NMR result). All participants received counseling from a nurse level certified tobacco counseling. After consent, participants undergo a blood draw for NMR, complete a baseline questionnaire, and are randomized to GBC or MIC. At approximately 1, 3, and 6 months post-consent, participants will provide follow up information via telephone questionnaire regarding symptoms, confidence in quitting, use of medications, and smoking status. At the 6-month follow-up time point, if a participant self-reports abstinence from smoking, the participant will be asked to complete a survey in-person and provide a sample of end-expired carbon monoxide for biochemical validation. At the 6 month time point, GBC participants who continue to smoke will be offered an additional phone call from the nurse tobacco counselor in which the results of the baseline NMR test will be given, along with a second prescription for a smoking cessation medication based on the NMR results (i.e., single arm crossover design). Two weeks after this additional phone call, the patient will be contacted for a final survey regarding use of medication and smoking status.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
TRIPLE
This intervention used information from a genetically-informed biomarker (Nicotine Metabolite Ratio, NMR) to assign one of 3 FDA-approved smoking cessation pharmacotherapies (varenicline, bupropion, or NRT) to participants.
FDA-approved smoking cessation pharmacotherapy
FDA-approved smoking cessation pharmacotherapy
Theoretical Endorsement of MIC as assessed by level of agreement to a set of seven 5-point Likert Scale questions
Likert Scale from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree on items assessing attitudes toward and perceptions of using metabolism information to guide medical care
Time frame: Baseline
Acceptance of MIC medication recommendation as assessed by concordance between MIC recommendation and actual prescribed medication
Level of agreement between participant's prescribed medication and the medication that would be recommended based on Nicotine Metabolite Ratio
Time frame: At 4 weeks post-baseline
Confidence in Quitting
Self-reported confidence in ability to quit
Time frame: Baseline - 6 months
Medication Use/Compliance
Use of prescribed medication, as directed
Time frame: 1 - 6 months
Smoking Status
Self-reported and/or biochemically validated smoking cessation
Time frame: 6 months
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Enrollment
82
FDA-approved smoking cessation pharmacotherapy