Young vapers at risk of bronchitis as well as shortness of breath even if they also smoke

At each survey wave, participants were asked about ever and past 30-day use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes. Cannabis use was added to the questions at wave 3. The final analysis included 2094 young people, almost half of whom were women. At wave 1 —the only time this question was asked—476 (23%) respondents reported a lifetime history of asthma.

Current wheeze and shortness of breath varied by wave, with bronchitic symptoms the most commonly reported symptom at each wave: 19.5%, 22.5%, 23.5% and 26%, respectively.

Prevalence of past 30-day e-cigarette use was just under 12% at waves 1 and 2 and 11% (wave 3), but it increased to more than 15.5% at wave 4.

The odds of wheeze were 81% more likely among past 30-day e-cigarette users than among never users. Similarly, the odds of bronchitic symptoms were twice as likely, while those of shortness of breath were 78% more likely after accounting for survey wave, age, sex, race and parental education.

Reference: Prospective study of e-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms in adolescents and young adults, Thorax, DOI 10.1136/thorax-2022-218670