Vaping in Asthmatic Adolescents: Time to Deal with the Elephant in the Room.

Introduction:
This article provides a comprehensive review of the current knowledge regarding the effect of vaping on adolescents with asthma and proposes actions to restrain this fast-growing trend. The authors highlight the need for more well-designed studies to confirm the initial worrying data and emphasize the importance of action by medical officers and health authorities to deal with the vaping pandemic.

Key Points:

* Adolescence is a critical period characterized by developmental, psychological, and psychosocial alterations that can impact youths’ attitudes and perceptions towards risky behaviors, including smoking, vaping, and other substance use.
* Vaping has become extremely popular among adolescents, and studies have suggested that it has potential adverse effects on asthmatic airways.
* The study design includes a review of current literature and a proposal of actions to restrain the vaping trend among adolescents with asthma.
* Vaping is associated with a pooled odds ratio of 3.50 for subsequent cigarette smoking initiation compared to non-users.
* ECs contain potentially harmful materials besides nicotine, including toxic metals, volatile organic compounds, and flavoring chemicals.
* Vaping can undermine the way the human airway defends itself against infectious agents, increasing the risk of respiratory infections and asthma exacerbations.
* EC use is linked with lifelong asthma, and asthmatic adolescents are more likely to be current vapers compared to non-asthmatics.
* Actions are needed at different levels to curb the threat rising from vaping, including new, well-designed, and longitudinal studies, regulations on EC product sales and advertising, and increased awareness among healthcare providers and parents.

Main Message:
The vaping trend among adolescents, particularly those with asthma, is a significant public health concern. This article highlights the need for more well-designed studies to confirm the initial worrying data and emphasizes the importance of action by medical officers and health authorities to deal with the vaping pandemic. Actions are needed at different levels, including regulations on EC product sales and advertising, increased awareness among healthcare providers and parents, and new, well-designed, and longitudinal studies. The main message is clear: vaping is not a harmless alternative to smoking, and it is crucial to take action to protect the health of adolescents with asthma.

Chatziparasidis G, Kantar A. Vaping in Asthmatic Adolescents: Time to Deal with the Elephant in the Room. Children (Basel, Switzerland). 2022;9(3). doi:10.3390/children9030311