E-cigarettes have the potential to be a trigger for the development of asthma. This study also showed that both past and present usage of e-cigarettes are strongly related to the development of asthma in adults.
E-cigarettes are non-conventional tobacco products that employ a rechargeable battery for heating disposable e-liquid cartridges. This leads to the production of an inhalable aerosol composed of nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavors. E-cigarettes are an attractive alternative for former smokers, individuals who have never smoked, and current smokers. Initially developed in 2000, e-cigarettes gained popularity in 2006. Although e-cigarettes are considered an effective option for smoking cessation, they were not subjected to pre-marketing safety trials or toxicology testing. A lung injury outbreak in 2019 in the US, in association with e-cigarettes, involved more than 2600 young students.
Asthma is a prevalent medical condition that is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways leading to narrowing and wall-thickening. This results in cough, shortness of breath, and chest tightness in affected individuals. Asthma is caused by an interaction between genetic and environmental factors, such as outdoor air pollution, dust mites, and smoking. Lack of awareness related to the avoidance of triggering factors manifests as a relatively higher prevalence of asthma in children than adults. While tobacco smoking is related to airway inflammation and asthma attacks, the role of e-cigarettes in inducing asthma attacks is unclear.
This systematic review and meta-analysis, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, assessed the association between asthma and e-cigarettes in adolescents. A total of 10 cross-sectional articles were included in the meta-analysis. The total number of study participants was 483,948, which comprised middle-school or high-school students. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding the use of e-cigarettes. A physician confirmed the self-reported diagnosis of asthma. The prevalence of past use of e-cigarettes in the included studies ranged from 2.2 to 45%. However, the prevalence of current use of e-cigarettes ranged from 2.7 to 25%.
The study findings provide evidence regarding the association between asthma in adolescents and the use of e-cigarettes. This systematic review and meta-analysis reveals that e-cigarettes can act as a potential trigger for the development of asthma. This study also demonstrates that both a history of use and current use of e-cigarettes are significantly associated with the onset of asthma in adults.
Reference
Li, X., Zhang, Y., Zhang, R., Chen, F., Shao, L., & Zhang, L. (2022). Association Between E-Cigarettes and Asthma in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 62(6), 953-960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.01.015
