| Summary: | Introduction
Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is gaining popularity among
adults. Monitoring e-cigarette-induced respiratory symptoms is crucial for both
clinical and regulatory purposes. We systematically reviewed the current literature
to understand the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among exclusive e-cigarette
users, dual users, and former smokers.
Methods
Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library,
Embase, and Scopus. We included all English-language, empirical quantitative
articles that explored the prevalence of e-cigarette-related respiratory symptoms.
Random-effects models were utilized in conducting the meta-analyses. The quality
of identified studies was evaluated using the NIH Study Quality Assessment Tools.
This study is registered with PROSPERO(#CRD42020165973).
Results
The literature search identified 1240 references. After removing duplicates
and screening for eligibility, 168 studies were included in the final review. The
majority of included studies reported a wide range of adverse respiratory symptoms.
The respiratory symptoms were prevalent among the exclusive e-cigarette users,
dual users, and those who switched from combustible cigarettes to e-cigarettes.
Further, out of the RCT studies, 5 were rated as good quality, while 3 were rated
as fair. Among the observational studies, 24 were rated as good quality, and 9 were
rated as fair. The two experimental studies were both rated as fair quality.
Conclusions
Continued monitoring of respiratory symptoms among e-cigarette
users is warranted. Due to the heterogeneity and inconsistencies among studies,
which limit result interpretation and highlight the need for studies assessing
causal inference, further research using robust study designs is essential. This will
provide clinicians with comprehensive knowledge about the potential respiratory
risks of e-cigarette use.
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