Catania, November 19, 2024 – A groundbreaking international study conducted as part of the VERITAS cohort project has provided critical insights into the respiratory health of exclusive e-cigarette users without an established smoking history. Published in Scientific Reports, the study assessed respiratory symptoms among adults who have never been regular smokers but use e-cigarettes, offering a rare glimpse into the health effects of vaping in this specific population.
Led by researchers from the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) and its global collaborators, the study compared respiratory symptoms between a cohort of e-cigarette users and a control group who had never used nicotine or tobacco products. Findings indicate that while e-cigarette users reported slightly higher frequencies of respiratory symptoms than non-users, the differences were not clinically significant.
Key Findings
- Minimal Symptoms: The majority of e-cigarette users (83.3%) and controls (88.4%) reported “rarely” or “never” experiencing respiratory symptoms, such as cough or shortness of breath.
- Statistical vs. Clinical Impact: E-cigarette users had a slightly higher mean score on the Respiratory Symptom Evaluation Scale (RSES); however, the difference was far below the threshold of clinical relevance.
- Patterns of Use: Disposable e-cigarettes were the most commonly used devices among participants, with fruit flavors being a popular choice.
- Exclusion of Smoking History Confounders: Unlike previous studies, this research excluded participants with established smoking histories, addressing a major limitation in understanding the health effects of exclusive vaping.
Implications for Public Health
The study emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between statistical and clinically meaningful findings when evaluating the health impacts of e-cigarettes. “This research offers novel evidence that e-cigarette use in adults without a smoking history does not result in clinically significant respiratory symptoms” said Jeffrey Zamora, project leader of Veritas.
Future Directions
The VERITAS study lays the groundwork for longitudinal research to further assess the long-term effects of e-cigarettes on respiratory health. “This data is critical for shaping evidence-based public health policies, especially as we work to differentiate the effects of vaping from those of traditional smoking,” added Professor Riccardo Polosa, a leading author and founder of CoEHAR.
Read the full study here:
