Abstract
Use of e-cigarettes (ECs) among youths has increased in recent years. e-Cigarette aerosol contains chemical constituents, such as diacetyl or benzaldehyde, which are known to affect the respiratory system. To examine the association between EC use and self-reported wheezing in a cohort of US adolescents. This cohort study used data from waves 3 and 4 (October 19, 2015, to January 3, 2018) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, a longitudinal, nationally representative cohort survey. Adolescent respondents aged 12 to 17 years who did not have asthma were included. e-Cigarette use during the previous year. Self-reported wheezing in the past 12 months (yes or no) and EC use (no use in past year or never use, use in past year, use in past 30 days, and use in past 7 days). Survey-weighted logistic regression models adjusted for demographic characteristics and other risk factors. Among 7049 adolescents without asthma from waves 3 and 4 of the PATH study, 49.9% were female and 54.4% were non-Hispanic White. In unadjusted models, the odds of wheezing in the past 12 months were higher for youths who had used ECs in the past year compared with those who had not (odds ratio, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.22-2.48; P = .003). In the adjusted model, after controlling for the variables of race/ethnicity, household rules about the use of tobacco, contact with a smoker in the previous 7 days, and current use of combustible tobacco products, the association of EC use with wheezing was not significant (adjusted odds ratio for EC use in the past year, 1.37 [95% CI, 0.91-2.05]; in the past 30 days, 1.35 [95% CI, 0.63-2.88]; in the past 7 days, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.28-1.97]; P = .33). In this cohort study, use of ECs alone was not associated with increased odds of experiencing wheezing episodes. Future studies incorporating the use of objective data appear to be needed to more accurately understand the potential respiratory harms associated with vaping among adolescents.
Highlights
Public health efforts have been effective in reducing the use of cigarettes among youths, and rates of cigarette use are the lowest ever recorded[1]; use of e-cigarettes (ECs) by youths has substantially increased in recent years.[1,2,3,4] The findings from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey showed a 75% increase in EC use among high school students between 2017 and 2018.1,5 ThisOpen Access
The odds of wheezing in the past 12 months were higher for youths who had used ECs in the past year compared with those who had not
Use of ECs was associated with odds of any wheezing in the past 12 months in the unadjusted model (Table 2)
Summary
Public health efforts have been effective in reducing the use of cigarettes among youths, and rates of cigarette use are the lowest ever recorded[1]; use of e-cigarettes (ECs) by youths has substantially increased in recent years.[1,2,3,4] The findings from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey showed a 75% increase in EC use among high school students between 2017 and 2018.1,5 ThisOpen Access.
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