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Zamora Goicoechea J, Boughner A, Cirion Lee JJ, Mahajan A, Yeo K, Sproga M, Patel T, Saitta C, Russell C, Coughlan M, Caponnetto P, Polosa R. A Global Health Survey of People Who Vape but Never Smoked: Protocol for the VERITAS (Vaping Effects: Real-World International Surveillance) Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2024; 13:e54236. [PMID: 38546715 PMCID: PMC11009848 DOI: 10.2196/54236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is only limited information about the health effects of regular vaping. Research on the health status of people who used to smoke faces the challenge that previous smoking may have caused unknown health effects. Only studies of people who vape but have never smoked combustible cigarettes can enable the detection of harms attributable to vaping. Large prospective studies of well-characterized electronic cigarette users with and without a history of combustible cigarette smoking are warranted to establish the long-term effects of regular vaping on respiratory health. OBJECTIVE We will conduct a global cross-sectional survey of individuals from 6 world regions. Respiratory symptoms will be assessed using a validated questionnaire-the Respiratory Symptom Experience Scale (RSES). Current vapers who are nonusers of other tobacco or nicotine products will be compared with matched controls who are nonusers of vapes and other tobacco or nicotine products. METHODS This will be a multicountry, cross-sectional internet-based survey of 750 adults aged ≥18 years who satisfy the criteria for inclusion in either a cohort of people who exclusively vape and who are nonusers of other tobacco or nicotine products ("vapers cohort"; target N=500) or a cohort of nonvapers who are also nonusers of other tobacco or nicotine products ("controls cohort"; target N=250). The primary end point of the study is the RSES score. RSES scores of people in the "vapers cohort" will be compared with those of people in the "controls cohort." Additionally, the study will collect data to characterize patterns of vaping product use among the vapers cohort. Data collection will include information about the age initiation of using vape products, reasons for starting and continuing the use of vape products, specific types of products used, flavors and nicotine strengths of recently used products, as well as the frequency and intensity of product use in the past 30 days. RESULTS Participant recruitment started in April 2023, and enrollment was completed by November 2023 with 748 participants. Results will be reported in 2024. CONCLUSIONS This will be the first study providing key insights into respiratory health effects associated with using electronic cigarettes in people who vape with no established use of combustible cigarettes or other tobacco or nicotine products. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/54236.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Zamora Goicoechea
- International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations, Vejle, Denmark
- Asociación de Reducción de Daños del Tabaquismo, Bogota, Colombia
- Asociación de usuarios de vaporizadores y métodos de reducción de daños por tabaquismo de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Allison Boughner
- American Vapor Manufacturers, Prescott, AZ, United States
- South Carolina Vapor Association, Charleston, SC, United States
| | | | | | - Kurt Yeo
- Vaping Saved My Life, Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa
- World Vapers Alliance, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | - Tasmin Patel
- Confidosoft Ltd, Leatherhead, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Pasquale Caponnetto
- Section of Psychology, Department of Science of Education, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Catana, Italy
| | - Riccardo Polosa
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Catana, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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Tao X, Zhang J, Meng Q, Chu J, Zhao R, Liu Y, Dong Y, Xu H, Tian T, Cui J, Zhang L, Chu M. The potential health effects associated with electronic-cigarette. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 245:118056. [PMID: 38157958 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.118056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
A good old gateway theory that electronic-cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are widely recognized as safer tobacco substitutes. In actuality, demographics also show that vaping cannibalizes smoking, the best explanation of the data is the "common liability". However, the utilization of e-cigarette products remains a controversial topic at present. Currently, there has been a widespread and substantial growth in e-cigarette use worldwide owing to their endless new flavors and customizable characteristics. Furthermore, e-cigarette has grown widespread among smokers as well as non-smokers, including adolescents and young adults. And some studies have shown that e-cigarette users are at greater risk to start using combustible cigarettes while e-cigarettes use was also observed the potential benefits to people who want to quit smoking or not. Although it is true that e-cigarettes generally contain fewer toxic substances than combustible cigarettes, this does not mean that the chemical composition in e-cigarettes aerosols poses absolutely no risks. While concerns about toxic substances in e-cigarettes and their widespread use in the population are reasonable, it is also crucial to consider that e-cigarettes have been associated with the potential for promoting smoking cessation and the clinically relevant improvements in users with smoking-related pathologies. Meanwhile, there is still short of understanding of the health impacts associated with e-cigarette use. Therefore, in this review, we discussed the health impacts of e-cigarette exposure on oral, nasal, pulmonary, cardiovascular systems and brain. We aspire for this review to change people's previous perceptions of e-cigarettes and provide them with a more balanced perspective. Additionally, we suggest appropriate adjustments on regulation and policy for e-cigarette to gain greater public health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Tao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiale Zhang
- The Second People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qianyao Meng
- Department of Global Health and Population, School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, USA
| | - Junfeng Chu
- Department of Oncology, Jiangdu People's Hospital of Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rongrong Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Jiangdu People's Hospital of Yangzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiran Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Dong
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huiwen Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tian Tian
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiahua Cui
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Minjie Chu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
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Qureshi MA, Vernooij RWM, La Rosa GRM, Polosa R, O'Leary R. Correction to: Respiratory health efects of e-cigarette substitution for tobacco cigarettes: a systematic review. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:60. [PMID: 38481244 PMCID: PMC10935769 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-00968-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ahmed Qureshi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Centre of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofa, 89 Torre Biologica 11 Piano, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Robin W M Vernooij
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht and Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Riccardo Polosa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Centre of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofa, 89 Torre Biologica 11 Piano, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Renee O'Leary
- Centre of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofa, 89 Torre Biologica 11 Piano, 95123, Catania, Italy.
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