One-third of e-cigarette users report symptoms of lung irritation, injury
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One-third of users of e-cigarette or related products reported symptoms associated with lung irritation or injury caused by vaping.
“The symptoms of [e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury] are similar to those in other respiratory illnesses, like pneumonia and even the seasonal flu virus and the causes of [e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury] are still under investigation,” Thanh-Huyen T. Vu, MD, PhD, research associate professor of epidemiology in the department of preventative medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, told Healio.
Vu and colleagues evaluated a 2016 national survey of 1,432 current e-cigarette users (age range, 18 to 64 years; 50% women). Participants reported specific electronic cigarette vaping devices and related products they used and selected specific symptoms that they believed were a result of their vaping. Researchers focused on symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, nausea, stomach pain and chest pain associated with e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury. Influence of specific product choices and the occurrence of these symptoms after demographic adjustment, cigarette smoking and frequency and duration of e-cigarette or related product use were also assessed.
Fifty-five percent reported having one or more of all symptoms and 33% reported having one or more of the five focused symptoms, with cough and nausea as the most common symptoms (27% and 7.3%, respectively), according to results reported at the virtual American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.
Those who used refillable devices by pouring more e-liquid were 70% more likely to report clinical symptoms (OR = 1.7; 95% CI, 1.13-2.56) and those who used devices with refillable cartridges were 95% more likely to report symptoms (OR = 1.95; 95% CI, 1.27-2.99). Those who used varied nicotine content, flavored products or made their own e-liquids were also more likely to report cough, shortness of breath, nausea, stomach pain and chest pain compared with those who did not.
“The clinical implication of our findings is health care professionals need to assist patients in better understanding the full risks and potential harms of [electronic nicotine device system] use,” Vu said. “The advice should be to avoid vaping, but if you do vape, be careful with the products you are using and do not self-modify those products.”
According to a press release, researchers reported e-cigarette and related product use had increased since 2016, with 3.6 million U.S. youths being current users and eight of 10 reporting using flavored e-cigarettes.
“Although our findings are from an adult vaping survey, the findings are also important for teens, because teens are likely to experiment with different use methods. Health messaging should be designed for parents and guardians or other adults working closely with youth, such as teachers and coaches, to increase their understanding of the relation of [electronic nicotine delivery systems] use with health consequences including [e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury],” Vu said.
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Vu THT, et al. Abstract P388. Presented at: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions; Nov. 13-17, 2020 (virtual meeting).
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