An international study conducted as part of the VERITAS project has provided key insights into the respiratory health of exclusive e-cigarette users with no established history of smoking. Published in Scientific Reports, the study evaluated respiratory symptoms among adults who have never been regular smokers but use e-cigarettes, offering a rare perspective on the health effects of vaping in this specific population.
Key Findings
• The VERITAS project is the first large-scale study worldwide to investigate the effects of exclusive e-cigarette use among vapers without a prior history of smoking.
• Study: Initial findings on the respiratory effects of e-cigarettes in a sample of approximately 750 participants were recently published in Scientific Reports.
• Minimal Symptoms: Most e-cigarette users (83.3%) 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.
• Pattern 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 an established smoking history, addressing a major limitation in understanding the health effects of vaping alone compared to prior smoking habits.
Catania, November 19, 2024 – A groundbreaking international study conducted as part of the VERITAS cohort project has provided crucial insights into the respiratory health of exclusive e-cigarette users with no established history of smoking.
Published in Scientific Reports, the study assessed respiratory symptoms among adults who had never been habitual smokers but used e-cigarettes, offering a rare glimpse into the health effects of vaping in this specific population.
Led by researchers from CoEHAR and their global collaborators, the study compared respiratory symptoms between a cohort of e-cigarette users and a control group who had never smoked conventional cigarettes. The results indicate that individuals who have never smoked but exclusively used e-cigarette devices do not exhibit clinically relevant respiratory symptoms.
Moreover, the study highlights the importance of distinguishing between statistically and clinically significant results when evaluating the health impacts of e-cigarettes.
“VERITAS lays the groundwork for longitudinal research to further assess the long-term effects of e-cigarettes on respiratory health. These findings are essential for shaping public health policies based on scientific evidence, especially as we work to differentiate the effects of vaping from those of traditional smoking,” explained Prof. Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR.
“What makes the VERITAS project unique is not only its reach across six geographically diverse areas,” said Jeffrey Zamora, the study’s lead author, “but also its ability to provide data on the real-world use of e-cigarettes, including the most commonly used device types (refillable, disposable, pod-based), flavor preferences, and variations across different socio-cultural groups.”
Read the full study here:
