association of smoking and electronic cigarette use with wheezing and related respiratory symptoms in adults: cross-sectional results from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) study, wave 2.

Introduction:

This text provides an analysis of the association between e-cigarette use, smoking, and wheezing and related respiratory symptoms in adults, using data from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) Study Wave 2. The study aims to compare the risks of wheezing and related respiratory symptoms among current vapers, smokers, and dual users, while also considering the potential lingering effects of past smoking in current vapers who have quit.

Key Points:

* The study uses data from the PaTh Study Wave 2, which includes 28,171 adults.
* The study creates a current vaping and smoking status variable with four categories: dual users, current smokers, current vapers, and non-users.
* The study also separates current vapers into two subgroups: vapers who were ex-smokers and vapers who never smoked and now use e-cigarettes exclusively.
* The study examines the association of self-reported health outcomes related to wheezing and whistling in the chest with vaping and smoking.
* The study controls for age categories, sex, race/ethnicity, income level, BMI categories, duration of e-cigarette use, self-reported asthma, self-perception of physical health, self-perception of mental health, and second-hand smoke exposure.
* The study finds that current vapers have an increased risk of wheezing and related respiratory symptoms compared to non-users, even after adjusting for confounding variables.
* The study also finds that current vapers who were ex-smokers have a higher risk of wheezing and related respiratory symptoms compared to never smokers, even after adjusting for confounding variables.

Main Message:

The study provides evidence of the potential harms of vaping at the population level, with current vapers having an increased risk of wheezing and related respiratory symptoms compared to non-users. The study also suggests that promoting complete cessation of both smoking and vaping will be beneficial to maximize the risk reduction of wheezing and other related respiratory symptoms. additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of reducing e-cigarette use for public health benefits, as e-cigarette use is relatively new and very few studies have examined its effect on chronic health conditions.

Li D, Sundar IK, McIntosh S, et al. association of smoking and electronic cigarette use with wheezing and related respiratory symptoms in adults: cross-sectional results from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) study, wave 2. Tobacco control. 2020;29(2):140-147. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054694