Current users of e-cigarettes were significantly more likely to have wheeze-related respiratory symptoms.

Electronic cigarette use is increasing among young adults, but prospective data on risks associated with e-cigarette use are lacking. Using US national annual tobacco and health survey data from 6400 young adults (age range, 18 to 24 years) collected between 2014 and 2019, researchers analysed the association between e-cigarette use and development of interval respiratory symptoms (specifically, wheezing episodes and noninfective nocturnal dry cough) at 12 months. Individuals with pre-existing respiratory symptoms or illnesses were excluded.

About 6% of the cohort were current e-cigarette users, 15% were former e-cigarette users and 10% were current ‘combustible’ (i.e. traditional tobacco) cigarette smokers. Just under half of e-cigarette users also smoked combustible cigarettes. In adjusted analyses, e-cigarette users were significantly more likely to have wheezing-related respiratory symptoms at 12 months than were nonusers of any cigarette products (25% vs 14%), but e-cigarette users were not more likely to experience dry nocturnal coughing.

Comment: Electronic cigarettes are a recognised gateway to nicotine dependence and now are associated clearly with risk for wheezing-related respiratory symptoms in young adult users. This study provides further reason for discouraging electronic cigarette use.
MARIE CLAIRE O’DWYER, MB BCh, BAO, MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor in Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, USA.

Xie W, et al. Association of electronic cigarette use with respiratory symptom development among US young adults. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022; 205: 1320-1329.

This summary is taken from the following Journal Watch title: General Medicine.