COPD smokers who switched to e-cigarettes: health outcomes at 5-year follow up.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a scientific study on the long-term health impacts of electronic cigarette (EC) use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study followed a cohort of COPD patients who switched to ECs for up to 5 years and compared their health outcomes with a control group of COPD patients who continued to smoke. The study assessed respiratory exacerbations, spirometric indices, quality of life, and conventional cigarette consumption. The results suggest that EC use may ameliorate objective and subjective COPD outcomes, and that the benefits gained appear to persist long term.

Key points:

* The study followed a cohort of COPD patients who switched to ECs for up to 5 years.
* The control group consisted of COPD patients who continued to smoke.
* The study assessed respiratory exacerbations, spirometric indices, quality of life, and conventional cigarette consumption.
* COPD EC users had a significant diminution in COPD exacerbations and significant and constant improvements in lung function, CaT scores, and 6MWD.
* The benefits gained by COPD EC users appear to persist long term.
* The study suggests that EC use for abstinence and smoking reduction may ameliorate some of the harm resulting from tobacco smoking in COPD patients.
* The study highlights the need for more knowledge on the long-term health impacts of routine EC use in this patient population.

Main message:
The study suggests that EC use may ameliorate objective and subjective COPD outcomes, and that the benefits gained appear to persist long term. The results support the use of ECs as a harm reduction strategy for COPD patients who are having difficulty quitting smoking. however, more knowledge is needed on the long-term health impacts of routine EC use in this patient population. The study highlights the need for further research in this area to provide sound advice to COPD patients who cannot quit or who are not interested in quitting.

Polosa R, Morjaria JB, Prosperini U, et al. COPD smokers who switched to e-cigarettes: health outcomes at 5-year follow up. Therapeutic advances in chronic disease. 2020;11:2040622320961617. doi:10.1177/2040622320961617