Risk of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and constitutional health symptoms: a cross-sectional study of Texas adolescent and young adult nicotine and marijuana vapers.

Introduction:
This text summarizes a cross-sectional study examining the relationship between vaping and various health symptoms in Texas adolescents and young adults. The study compares self-reported health symptoms in vapers who use nicotine, marijuana, or both, with those who have never used e-cigarettes.

Key Points:

* The study uses data from the Texas adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance System (TaTaMS) Wave 12.
* The study examines health symptoms in the past 90 days and vaping-related diagnoses, including respiratory, gastrointestinal, and constitutional symptoms.
* The study categorizes participants into four groups: marijuana-only vapers, nicotine-only vapers, dual users (both nicotine and marijuana), and never users.
* The study finds that dual vapers reported the highest prevalence of most health symptoms, followed by nicotine-only and marijuana-only vapers.
* The study finds that dual vapers had significantly higher odds of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and constitutional symptoms compared to never users.
* The study also finds that nicotine-only and marijuana-only vapers had significantly higher odds of gastrointestinal symptoms compared to never users.
* The study controls for covariates such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, current combustible tobacco and marijuana use, history of asthma and bronchitis, and prior COVID-19 diagnosis.

Main Message:
This study highlights the potential negative health impacts of vaping, particularly among dual users of nicotine and marijuana. The study underscores the importance of monitoring and regulating e-cigarettes, especially in light of the increasing popularity of vaping among young people. The findings suggest that public health initiatives should focus on educating adolescents and young adults about the potential risks associated with vaping and encouraging them to seek help if they experience adverse health symptoms.

Case KR, Clendennen SL, Tsevat J, harrell MB. Risk of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and constitutional health symptoms: a cross-sectional study of Texas adolescent and young adult nicotine and marijuana vapers. Preventive medicine. 2022;159:107057. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107057