- The study systematically reviewed the respiratory effects of e-cigarette (EC) use, distinguishing between dual use, exclusive use, and naïve use.
- Twelve systematic reviews were analyzed
- No significant changes in respiratory function were observed across all patterns of use in the short or medium term.
Catania, March17, 2025- A newly published critical umbrella review in Tobacco Use Insights examines the patterns of e-cigarette use and their effects on respiratory function. Conducted by researchers from the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), the study highlights the absence of significant short- or medium-term respiratory changes associated with e-cigarette use, regardless of usage patterns. Led by Dr. Giusy Rita Maria La Rosa, Prof. Riccardo Polosa, and Dr. Renée O’Leary, the review analyzed twelve systematic reviews on e-cigarette effects, categorizing users into three groups: dual users (who smoke and vape), exclusive users (former smokers who switched to vaping), and naïve users (those who have never smoked but use e-cigarettes).
“Studies on the latest products on the market have shown reductions in chemical emissions” explains Dr. O’Leary, researcher at CoEHAR and head of the In Silico Science Project. “Across all user categories, there were no statistically significant changes in respiratory function. The 5 systematic reviews in our analysis concluded that there is no definitive evidence of harm or benefit regardless of the pattern of EC use”
“Current data do not show significant respiratory variations associated with e-cigarette use in the short or medium term. However, due to the lack of adequate longitudinal studies, no definitive conclusions can be drawn” – add Dr. La Rosa, researcher at CoEHAR.
These results can be explained by considering several important factors: acute studies provide data on short-term exposure to e-cigarettes and cannot be used to assess long-term effects; studies do not always account for participants’ smoking history; and individuals with low-frequency e-cigarette use are often grouped together with those who use e-cigarettes more frequently.
Regarding the quality of the included studies, only 5 out of 12 reviews were rated as having high or moderate confidence in their findings. Reporting issues were common.
“The study highlights the importance of distinguishing between different vaping behaviors in future research, as well as addressing methodological weaknesses and biases observed in many previous studies on the topic. But it allows us to state once again that vaping cannot be associated to significant changes in respiratory function” – concludes prof. Riccardo Polosa.
