Medical consequences of e-cigarette use may stretch beyond heart disease

NEW ORLEANS — Adult daily e-cigarette users were 54% more likely to have depression, anxiety or emotional problems than those who did not use such devices, according to findings presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.

Researchers also found those using e-cigarettes were 34% more likely to have a myocardial infarction and 25% more likely to have coronary artery disease.

Findings are based on 96,467 National Health Interview Surveys from 2014, 2016 and 2017, according to Salim Virani, MD, PhD, FACC, associate professor in the cardiology and cardiovascular research sections at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Data from 2015 were not available.

He encouraged attendees to use the findings to develop strategies for encouraging vaping cessation.

Adult daily e-cigarette users were 54% more likely to have depression, anxiety or emotional problems than those who did not use such devices, according to findings presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.

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“If there are going to be any interventions to reduce e-cigarette use in our population, then we’re going to have to look at those emotional problems that are concurrent with the use of e-cigarettes,” Virani said.

Click here for more Healio coverage of Virani’s findings. – by Janel Miller and Melissa Foster

Reference: Vindhyal M. Abstract 911-12. Presented at: American College of Cardiology Scientific Session; March 16-18, 2019; New Orleans.

Disclosures: Vindhyal reports no relevant financial disclosures. Healio Primary Care Today was unable to determine Virani’s relevant financial disclosures prior to publication.