Potential cardiovascular implications of electronic cigarettes: how evident is the evidence?

Author(s):  
Chee H Liew

Abstract With increasing use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) worldwide, both leisurely and as a smoking cessation aid, the potential health implications of e-cigarettes have generated concerns. Poor oral health associated with e-cigarette use may put additional strain on cardiovascular health. Acute effects of e-cigarette exposure on cardiovascular health are well established. Few studies have demonstrated the long-term cardiovascular implications of using e-cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes may pose less of a threat to vascular function compared to tobacco cigarettes. While further research is necessary for strengthening the available evidence base, the use of e-cigarettes beyond supporting smoking cessation should not be encouraged.

2020 ◽  
pp. 204748732094199
Author(s):  
Maryam Kavousi ◽  
Charlotta Pisinger ◽  
Jean-Claude Barthelemy ◽  
Delphine De Smedt ◽  
Konstantinos Koskinas ◽  
...  

Background Tobacco use is the single largest preventable risk factor for premature death of non-communicable diseases and the second leading cause of cardiovascular disease. In response to the harmful effects of tobacco smoking, the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has emerged and gained significant popularity over the past 15 years. E-cigarettes are promoted as safe alternatives for traditional tobacco smoking and are often suggested as a way to reduce or quit smoking. However, evidence suggests they are not harmless. Discussion The rapid evolution of the e-cigarette market has outpaced the legislator’s regulatory capacity, leading to mixed regulations. The increasing use of e-cigarettes in adolescents and young individuals is of concern. While the long-term direct cardiovascular effects of e-cigarettes remain largely unknown, the existing evidence suggests that the e-cigarette should not be regarded as a cardiovascular safe product. The contribution of e-cigarette use to reducing conventional cigarette use and smoking cessation is complex, and the impact of e-cigarette use on long-term cessation lacks sufficient evidence. Conclusion This position paper describes the evidence regarding the prevalence of e-cigarette smoking, uptake of e-cigarettes in the young, related legislations, cardiovascular effects of e-cigarettes and the impact of e-cigarettes on smoking cessation. Knowledge gaps in the field are also highlighted. The recommendations from the population science and public health section of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology are presented.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. i90-i95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue-Lin Zhuang ◽  
Sharon E Cummins ◽  
Jessica Y Sun ◽  
Shu-Hong Zhu

Author(s):  
Neil McKeganey ◽  
Marina Barnard

This paper explores as a case study the development of e-cigarette use and smoking within small friendship group (n=8) in Glasgow, Scotland. Interviewed twice at six months apart these 16/17 year olds reported substantial change in their use of and attitudes towards e-cigarettes and tobacco. At time 1 vaping generated much excitement and interest, with 6/8 having their own vape device. At time 2 only two young people still vaped, with the others no longer professing any interest in continued vaping. The two regular smokers, who had been smoking before they first vaped, now only vaped privately and to reduce their tobacco intake. This small case study illustrates plasticity in the use of electronic cigarettes; just as young people can initiate using these devices so too can they more away from their use- with such changes in actual use occurring within a relatively short period of time. These findings demonstrate more than anything else the volatility in young peoples’ substance use behaviour. If we are to better understand these behaviours we require both quantitative and qualitative research studies that are capable of both monitoring changes in individual and group behaviour over time but which are also able to elucidate the nuance of individual behaviour differentiating between long term, frequent, consistent use and more episodic, experimental and infrequent use by young people.


2020 ◽  
pp. 103985622095009
Author(s):  
Guna Kanniah ◽  
Shailesh Kumar ◽  
Soumil Prasad

Objective: Use of electronic cigarettes has increased across the world in the last decade with heavy investment from the tobacco industry targeting younger population through well-designed marketing campaigns portraying e-cigarettes as harmless, less addictive and effective in smoking cessation while delivering higher nicotine concentration. The safety profile of e-cigarettes is reviewed in this paper. Conclusions: The safety of e-cigarettes and the chemicals they contain have not been evaluated rigorously. Emerging data suggest e-cigarette use could do severe harm. People with serious mental illness, already the highest nicotine consumers, could be exploited by the tobacco industry.


Author(s):  
Gregory Rodrigo ◽  
Guy Jaccard ◽  
Donatien Tafin Djoko ◽  
Alexandra Korneliou ◽  
Marco Esposito ◽  
...  

Abstract Health risk associated with the use of combustible cigarettes is well characterized and numerous epidemiological studies have been published for many years. Since more than a decade, innovative non-combusted tobacco products have emerged like heated tobacco products (HTP) or electronic cigarettes (EC). Long-term effects of these new products on health remain, however, unknown and there is a need to characterize associated potential health risks. The time dedicated to epidemiological data generation (at least 20 to 40 years for cancer endpoint), though, is not compatible with innovative development. Surrogates need, therefore, to be developed. In this work, non-cancer and cancer risks were estimated in a range of HTP and commercial combustible cigarettes based upon their harmful and potentially harmful constituent yields in aerosols and smoke, respectively. It appears that mean lifetime cancer risk values were decreased by more than one order of magnitude when comparing HTPs and commercial cigarettes, and significantly higher margin of exposure for non-cancer risk was observed for HTPs when compared to commercial cigarettes. The same approach was applied to two commercial ECs. Similar results were also found for this category of products. Despite uncertainties related to the factors used for the calculations and methodological limitations, this approach is valuable to estimate health risks associated to the use of innovative products. Moreover, it acts as predictive tool in absence of long-term epidemiological data. Furthermore, both cancer and non-cancer risks estimated for HTPs and ECs highlight the potential of reduced risk for non-combusted products when compared to cigarette smoking.


2016 ◽  
Vol 130 (21) ◽  
pp. 1929-1937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Cibella ◽  
Davide Campagna ◽  
Pasquale Caponnetto ◽  
Maria Domenica Amaradio ◽  
Massimo Caruso ◽  
...  

Quitting smoking is the most important step smokers can take to improve their health. Nonetheless, there is little information on long-term improvements in lung function and/or respiratory symptoms after smoking cessation. Here we illustrate long-term changes in spirometric indices as well as in respiratory symptoms in smokers invited to quit or reduce their cigarette consumption by switching to electronic cigarettes (ECs). Prospective evaluation of cigarette consumption, spirometry and symptoms was performed in a 1-year randomized controlled trial of smokers receiving EC containing 2.4%, 1.8% or 0% nicotine. Spirometric data are presented on the basis of participants’ pooled continuous smoking phenotype classification (Quitters, Reducers, Failures), whereas respiratory symptoms on the basis of their point prevalence-smoking phenotype. Smoking phenotype classification (Quitters, Reducers, Failures) had no significant effect on spirometric indices (FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC) with the exception of FEF25–75%, which significantly (P  =0.034) increased over the time among Quitters; their FEF25–75% (% predicted) improving from (means±S.D.) 85.7±15.6% at baseline (BL) to 100.8±14.6%. High prevalence of cough/phlegm (43.1%) and shortness of breath (SoB; 34.8%) was reported at BL with substantial reduction in their frequency at subsequent follow-up visits. These symptoms virtually disappeared very quickly in both quitters and reducers. Smokers invited to switch to ECs who completely abstained from smoking showed steady progressive improvements in their FEF25–75%. Normalization of peripheral airways function was associated with improvement in respiratory symptoms, adding to the notion that abstaining from smoking can reverse tobacco harm in the lung.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-87
Author(s):  
Rachael Taylor ◽  
David Sidloff ◽  
Robert D. Sayers ◽  
Matthew J. Bown ◽  
Athanasios Saratzis

Introduction: Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are becoming increasingly popular. However, little is known regarding their patterns of use in patients with established CVD.Aims: We aimed to assess the perceptions and patterns of use of e-cigarettes in patients presenting to a vascular clinic.Methods: We performed a qualitative study to identify perceptions and beliefs about e-cigarettes. Semi-structured interviews of consecutive patients consenting to participate were performed over five-months. Individuals were recruited from a vascular surgery outpatient clinic. Initial interviews were based on a questionnaire. Further structured interviews were conducted with patients currently using e-cigarettes, which were transcribed and analysed to assess perceptions and patterns of use.Results/Findings: Four overarching themes emerged: attraction to e-cigarettes as a harm reduction/smoking cessation strategy; uncertainty regarding the risks of e-cigarettes; use of various types of smoking cessation strategies; dual use and often complete relapse to tobacco products.Conclusions: Patients with established CVD view e-cigarettes as a means of smoking cessation; however, many relapse to tobacco products or use both simultaneously. Further research is necessary regarding the role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation in this high-risk group.


2016 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
pp. 216-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J Pippard ◽  
Mark D Shipley

Background: E-cigarette use has risen dramatically in recent years, despite uncertainty over long-term health effects and concerns regarding efficacy as a smoking cessation device. Currently, there is no legislation prohibiting use in public, though many trusts have extended the NHS Smokefree policy to include e-cigarettes. The successful implementation of such policy is, however, unclear. Aim: This study examined staff attitudes towards the use of e-cigarettes in a hospital environment with respect to enforcement of a local trust smoking policy. Methods: A total of 79 healthcare professionals working at South Tyneside District Hospital, South Shields, completed a written questionnaire regarding use of e-cigarettes, particularly views on use in public and on hospital premises. Factors influencing the likelihood of individuals to challenge the use of e-cigarettes were assessed. Results: In all, 45% of respondents thought that e-cigarettes should be allowed in public places, though a majority (62%) favoured use on hospital grounds compared to within hospital buildings (18%). Over 50% of respondents were unaware of trust policy relating to e-cigarettes and only 25% had ever challenged someone using a device. Roughly, one-third reported that they would still not challenge someone in future, despite being informed of trust policy. Fear of abuse was the most cited reason for not challenging. Expressed concerns of e-cigarette use related to fire risk, ‘normalising’ smoking behaviour and uncertainty of long-term effects. Conclusion: Most staff do not enforce trust policy regarding e-cigarette use. This reflects variation in opinion over use, poor awareness of the policy itself and perceived barriers to implementation, including fear of abuse. Addressing these issues through staff education sessions may help successful future implementation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 162 (3) ◽  
pp. 83-90
Author(s):  
Árpád Farkas ◽  
Gábor Tomisa ◽  
Erika Kis ◽  
Alpár Horváth

Összefoglaló. A dohányzás káros hatásainak vizsgálata hosszú ideje az orvostudomány egyik legintenzívebben kutatott területe. A nagy tudományos érdeklődésnek köszönhetően ma már meggyőző evidenciák állnak rendelkezésre a hagyományos cigaretta használatának számos negatív hatásáról. Ezzel ellentétben a sokkal később bevezetett helyettesítő termékek veszélyeiről lényegesen kevesebbet tudunk. E körbe tartozik a manapság egyre népszerűbb elektromos cigaretta is, amelyre egyre több, egészségügyi kockázatot felmérő munka fókuszál. Ugyanakkor a több évszázados múltra visszatekintő és a világ bizonyos helyein sokáig népszerű vízipipa érdekes esetnek számít, mivel használóinak száma a nyugati világban az utóbbi időben megugrott, de az emberre gyakorolt hatása számos ponton még vita tárgyát képezi. A jelen munka célja, hogy a hazai és a nemzetközi szakirodalom alapján feltérképezze a hagyományos cigaretta, az elektromos cigaretta és a vízipipa fontosabb egészségügyi hatásait, és rámutasson azokra a kapcsolódó területekre, ahol további kutatások szükségesek. A szakirodalmi áttekintés során a különböző publikációs adatbázisokban fellelhető tudományos cikkeket elemeztük. A megvizsgált szakirodalom alapján a tartós dohányzásnak bizonyítottan a szív-ér rendszert és a légzőrendszert károsító hatása van, de növekvő számú bizonyíték utal a neurológiai káros hatásokra és a gasztroenterológiai hatásokra is. Ugyanakkor az elektromos cigaretta és a vízipipa esetében a bizonyított akut hatások mellett a hosszú távú hatásokat illetően további intenzív kutatásokra van szükség. Az elektromos cigaretta és a vízipipa esetében a hosszú távú hatások kapcsán a meggyőző evidencia hiánya semmiképpen nem jelenti azt, hogy ezen termékeket kockázatmentesnek kellene tekinteni, sőt a pulmonológusoknak és a döntéshozóknak mindent meg kell tenniük annak érdekében, hogy valamennyi dohánytermék törvényi szabályozása azok használatának visszaszorítását célozza. A kérdés fontosságának a COVID–19-pandémia különös aktualitást ad. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(3): 83–90. Summary. Revealing the health effects associated with smoking has been in the focus of intense research for decades. Due to these research efforts, there is a convincing evidence regarding the negative effects of conventional cigarettes. However, much less is known about the replacement products such as electronic cigarettes. Moreover, the effects of waterpipes are also not fully explored, in spite of their long history. The scope of the present work is to survey the open literature to map the knowledge related to the health effects of conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and waterpipes. The analysis of the related scientific literature was performed based on papers retrieved in large publication repositories. Based on the reviewed literature, long-term smoking has demonstrated adverse effects on the respiratory as well as the heart and circulatory systems. In addition, the correlation between cigarette smoking and some gastroenterological and neurological diseases is also increasingly evident. By the same token, though the acute effects of e-cigarette and waterpipe are well documented, the protracted effects are still to be explored. The lack of pertinent information regarding the late effects of e-cigarette and hookah does not imply that there is no health risk associated with their consumption. On the contrary, in addition to the regular antismoke measures, pulmonologists and policy makers should do everything to lower the consumption of these alternative products. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(3): 83–90.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 1331-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Johnson ◽  
Yinjiao Ma ◽  
Sherri L Fisher ◽  
Alex T Ramsey ◽  
Li-Shiun Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction We examined past-12-month quit attempts and smoking cessation from 2006 to 2016 while accounting for demographic shifts in the US population. In addition, we sought to understand whether the current use of electronic cigarettes was associated with a change in past-12-month quit attempts and successful smoking cessation at the population level. Methods We analyzed data from 25- to 44-year-olds from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 2006 to 2016 (N = 26,354) and the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) in 2006–2007, 2010–2011, and 2014–2015 (N = 33,627). Data on e-cigarette use were available in the 2014–2016 NHIS and 2014–2015 TUS-CPS surveys. Results Past-12-month quit attempts and smoking cessation increased in recent years compared with 2006. Current e-cigarette use was associated with higher quit attempts (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.87 to 2.81, p < .001) and greater smoking cessation (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.21 to 2.21, p = .001) in the NHIS. Multivariable logistic regression of the TUS-CPS data showed that current e-cigarette use was similarly significantly associated with increased past-12-month quit attempts and smoking cessation. Significant interactions were found for smoking frequency (everyday and some-day smoking) and current e-cigarette use for both outcomes (p < .0001) with the strongest positive effects seen in everyday smokers. Conclusions Compared with 2006, past-12-month quit attempts and smoking cessation increased among adults aged 25–44 in recent years. Current e-cigarette use was associated with increased past-12-month quit attempts and successful smoking cessation among established smokers. These findings are relevant to future tobacco policy decisions. Implications E-cigarettes were introduced into the US market over the past decade. During this period, past-12-month quit attempts and smoking cessation have increased among US adults aged 25–44. These trends are inconsistent with the hypothesis that e-cigarette use is delaying quit attempts and leading to decreased smoking cessation. In contrast, current e-cigarette use was associated with significantly higher past-12-month quit attempts and past-12-month cessation. These findings suggest that e-cigarette use contributes to a reduction in combustible cigarette use among established smokers.


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