Electronic vapor products, marijuana use, smoking, and asthma in US adolescents.

Introduction:
This text is a scientific study examining the relationship between electronic vapor product (EVP) use, marijuana use, smoking, and asthma in US adolescents. The study uses data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS) and employs logistic regression to analyze the data. The key points highlight the study design, major findings, and implications of the research.

Key Points:

* The study uses data from the YRBS, a survey that monitors health risk behaviors in US youth, and incorporates sampling weights, stratification, and clusters to account for the complex survey design.
* The analysis is adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, overweight or obesity, and at least one dental visit in the previous year.
* The study finds that frequent cigarette smoking, marijuana use, and EVP use are significantly associated with increased odds of asthma.
* The association between EVP use and asthma is stronger when EVP use is combined with marijuana use, particularly when also combined with cigarette smoking.
* The study reports that use of EVPs is commonly combined with marijuana use and/or cigarette smoking in US adolescents.
* The study cannot exclude "reverse causation" as an alternative explanation for the cross-sectional findings.
* The study lacks data on current asthma symptoms, duration of usage or second-hand exposure to EVPs and medication use, as well as some SES indicators such as household income.

Main Message:
This study highlights the potential risks of EVP use in US adolescents, particularly when used in combination with marijuana and cigarette smoking. The findings suggest that EVP use is associated with asthma in these adolescents, and that such association is stronger when EVPs are used in combination with marijuana, particularly when also combined with cigarette smoking. The study also raises concerns about the potential for "reverse causation" and the lack of data on important factors such as duration of usage and medication use. Overall, the study supports both vigorous policies to stop use of EVPs in children and adolescents, and continued research on the detrimental effects of these products on respiratory health.

han YY, Rosser F, Forno E, Celedón JC. Electronic vapor products, marijuana use, smoking, and asthma in US adolescents. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology. 2020;145(3):1025-1028.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.001