Table 1 Baseline characteristics of study participants by treatment group

Characteristic

Varenicline group (N = 70)

Mean (± SD)

Placebo group (N = 70)

Mean (± SD)

p-value

Age (years)

53.8 (9.7)

51.3 (8.4)

0.0196

Years of smoking^a

27.7 (7.4)

27.1 (7.3)

0.6484

Years of vaping^b

2.0 (1.4)

2.1 (1.00)

0.1714

Motivation level by VAS

8.0 (7–10)^c

8.5 (7–10)^c

0.9611

BDI

7 (3–12.8)^c

9 (5–14)^c

0.2895

BAI

6 (3–13.5)^c

9.5 (5–17)^c

0.0151

MNWS^d

9 (7–12)^c

9 (6–12)^c

0.8413

PSECDI

11.7 (6.2)

14.9 (7.3)

0.0283

Weight (kg)

75.2 (12.6)

79.1 (15.8)

0.1095

Height (cm)

167.8 (8.4)

168.6 (9.5)

0.5891

BMI

26.95 (4.20)

27.63 (4.04)

0.3289

SBP (mmHg)

126.9 (13.3)

127.6 (13.3)

0.7366

DBP (mmHg)

76.4 (8.1)

77.4 (10.0)

0.5092

HR (b/min)

74.4 (10.2)

77.2 (10.4)

0.1066

Varenicline group (N = 70)

No. (%)

Placebo group (N = 70)

No. (%)

p-value

Gender

0.8657

 M

36 (51.4%)

33 (47.1%)

 F

34 (48.6%)

37 (52.9%)

Marital status

0.7046

 Married

53 (75.7%)

55 (78.6%)

 Unmarried

7 (10.0%)

8 (11.4%)

 Divorced

5 (7.1%)

1 (1.4%)

 Widower

2 (2.9%)

3 (4.3%)

 Separated

2 (2.9%)

2 (2.9%)

 Cohabiting

1 (1.4%)

1 (1.4%)

Educational level

0.0415

 No education

0 (0%)

2 (2.8%)

 Elementary school

6 (8.6%)

8 (11.4%)

 Middle school

25 (35.7%)

30 (42.9%)

 High school

25 (35.7%)

27 (38.6%)

 Graduation

14 (20.0%)

3 (4.3%)

Cohabitant vapers

0.3357

 YES

32 (45.7%)

30 (42.9%)

 NO

38 (54.3%)

40 (57.1%)

Number of quit vaping attempts

0.2355

  > 1

41 (58.6%)

34 (48.6%)

 1

29 (41.4%)

36 (51.4%)

Main vaping device^e

0.7107

 Refillable tank

55 (78.6%)

53 (75.7%)

 Refillable pod/cartridge

9 (12.9%)

10 (14.3%)

 Closed pod/cartridge system

5 (7.1%)

7 (10.0%)

 Disposable

1 (1.4%)

0 (0.0%)

Main e-liquid flavor^f

0.6909

 Tobacco

32 (45.7%)

34 (48.5%)

 Fruit

15 (21.4%)

17 (24.3%)

 Mint

6 (8.6%)

4 (5.7%)

 Dessert

11 (15.7%)

9 (12.9%)

 Mixed

6 (8.6%)

6 (8.6%)