The scientists found that 30 percent of those who had used NRT were smoking again a year or more after they quit, BBC News reported. The study appears in the journal Tobacco Control.
The University of Geneva researchers said earlier studies failed to track smokers over the long term and that most of the evidence for existing treatment guidelines is based on results seen in patients six to 12 months after a single course of NRT treatment.
The researchers said this data fails to take into account the large number of people who start smoking again at a later date, BBC News reported.
"What our analysis showed is that the effect of NRT fades away over time," said lead researcher Dr Jean-Francois Etter. – (HealthDayNews)
Read more:Stop smoking Centre
July 2006