E-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in residents of the United States: A BRFSS report

<h4>Purpose</h4> E-cigarettes are the most common type of electronic nicotine delivery system in the United States. E-cigarettes contain numerous toxic compounds that has been shown to induce severe structural damage to the airways. The objective of this study is to assess if there is an...

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Main Authors: Marcia H. Varella, Olyn A. Andrade, Sydney M. Shaffer, Grettel Castro, Pura Rodriguez, Noël C. Barengo, Juan M. Acuna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9714717/?tool=EBI
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author Marcia H. Varella
Olyn A. Andrade
Sydney M. Shaffer
Grettel Castro
Pura Rodriguez
Noël C. Barengo
Juan M. Acuna
author_facet Marcia H. Varella
Olyn A. Andrade
Sydney M. Shaffer
Grettel Castro
Pura Rodriguez
Noël C. Barengo
Juan M. Acuna
author_sort Marcia H. Varella
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Purpose</h4> E-cigarettes are the most common type of electronic nicotine delivery system in the United States. E-cigarettes contain numerous toxic compounds that has been shown to induce severe structural damage to the airways. The objective of this study is to assess if there is an association between e-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in adults in the US as reported in the BRFSS. <h4>Methods</h4> We analyzed data from 18,079 adults, 18–44 years, who participated at the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in the year 2017. E-cigarette smoking status was categorized as current everyday user, current some days user, former smoker, and never smoker. The frequency of any respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm, or shortness of breath) was compared. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analysis were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). <h4>Results</h4> The BRFSS reported prevalence of smoking e-cigarettes was 6%. About 28% of the participants reported any of the respiratory symptoms assessed. The frequency of reported respiratory symptoms was highest among current some days e-cigarette users (45%). After adjusting for selected participant’s demographic, socio-economic, and behavioral characteristics, and asthma and COPD status, the odds of reporting respiratory symptoms increased by 49% among those who use e-cigarettes some days (OR 1.49; 95% CI: 1.06–2.11), and by 29% among those who were former users (OR 1.29; 95% CI: 1.07–1.55) compared with those who never used e-cigarettes. No statistically significant association was found for those who used e-cigarettes every day (OR 1.41; 95% CI 0.96–2.08). <h4>Conclusion</h4> E-cigarettes cannot be considered as a safe alternative to aid quitting use of combustible traditional cigarettes. Cohort studies may shed more evidence on the association between e-cigarette use and respiratory diseases.
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spelling doaj.art-17e5cafb74c54dd98e30f40a129d9d792022-12-22T04:21:58ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-011712E-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in residents of the United States: A BRFSS reportMarcia H. VarellaOlyn A. AndradeSydney M. ShafferGrettel CastroPura RodriguezNoël C. BarengoJuan M. Acuna<h4>Purpose</h4> E-cigarettes are the most common type of electronic nicotine delivery system in the United States. E-cigarettes contain numerous toxic compounds that has been shown to induce severe structural damage to the airways. The objective of this study is to assess if there is an association between e-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in adults in the US as reported in the BRFSS. <h4>Methods</h4> We analyzed data from 18,079 adults, 18–44 years, who participated at the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in the year 2017. E-cigarette smoking status was categorized as current everyday user, current some days user, former smoker, and never smoker. The frequency of any respiratory symptoms (cough, phlegm, or shortness of breath) was compared. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analysis were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). <h4>Results</h4> The BRFSS reported prevalence of smoking e-cigarettes was 6%. About 28% of the participants reported any of the respiratory symptoms assessed. The frequency of reported respiratory symptoms was highest among current some days e-cigarette users (45%). After adjusting for selected participant’s demographic, socio-economic, and behavioral characteristics, and asthma and COPD status, the odds of reporting respiratory symptoms increased by 49% among those who use e-cigarettes some days (OR 1.49; 95% CI: 1.06–2.11), and by 29% among those who were former users (OR 1.29; 95% CI: 1.07–1.55) compared with those who never used e-cigarettes. No statistically significant association was found for those who used e-cigarettes every day (OR 1.41; 95% CI 0.96–2.08). <h4>Conclusion</h4> E-cigarettes cannot be considered as a safe alternative to aid quitting use of combustible traditional cigarettes. Cohort studies may shed more evidence on the association between e-cigarette use and respiratory diseases.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9714717/?tool=EBI
spellingShingle Marcia H. Varella
Olyn A. Andrade
Sydney M. Shaffer
Grettel Castro
Pura Rodriguez
Noël C. Barengo
Juan M. Acuna
E-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in residents of the United States: A BRFSS report
PLoS ONE
title E-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in residents of the United States: A BRFSS report
title_full E-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in residents of the United States: A BRFSS report
title_fullStr E-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in residents of the United States: A BRFSS report
title_full_unstemmed E-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in residents of the United States: A BRFSS report
title_short E-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in residents of the United States: A BRFSS report
title_sort e cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in residents of the united states a brfss report
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9714717/?tool=EBI
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