A study of 21,618 adults, published in JAMA Network Open, finds people who use e-cigarettes, or vape, have an associated risk for developing respiratory conditions, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The researchers used data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, which was created by the NIH and FDA in 2013 to examine how tobacco use affects the health of Americans.
In this study, which was partially funded by the NHLBI, researchers found prior and current e-cigarette use increased the risk for respiratory conditions. The researchers controlled for prior tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and other medical conditions to analyze how vaping impacts the airways and lungs. Additional analyses, including one with participants who rated their health as good to excellent at the start of the study, helped the team further assess the risks of e-cigarette use. Adults who vaped daily, regularly, and started before age 25 had the highest incidents of respiratory disease.
This research expands on previous studies that found e-cigarettes, which contain ultra-fine particles, cancer-causing compounds, and heavy metals, are associated with lung inflammation and altered immune function.