E-cigarette switching, smoking cessation, and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea

Key Points

• Hepatocellular carcinoma risk correlates with e-cigarette switching behaviors, highlighting significant outcomes in chronic hepatitis B patients.
• Patients who switched to e-cigarettes showed differences in smoking cessation rates, impacting hepatocellular carcinoma development.
• Utilizing a nationwide cohort, the study analyzed behaviors related to e-cigarette use and smoking cessation effectiveness.
• Findings suggest a need for better understanding of e-cigarette impacts on liver cancer risk, especially in chronic disease contexts.