Vaping and Cardiovascular Health: the Case for Health Policy Action

Abstract

E-cigarette smoking is rapidly increasing, especially in adolescents and adults, although data on their safety or harm is still scarce. There have been few systematic studies of the health effects of e-cigarette use and most studies report on the use of e-cigarettes in past or current cigarette smokers. In this paper, we want to summarize cardiovascular effects of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes could cause cardiovascular harm especially by the toxic effects and of the e-liquid and induction of oxidative stress. Nicotine has known effects on cardiovascular function that are not different in e-cigarettes to those in combustible cigarettes. Moreover, vaping nicotine could be the driver for future revival of combustible smoking. Although it seems that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative than combustible cigarettes for people that want to stop smoking, toxic effects of the e-liquid can induce an increase in cardiovascular risk. Long-term data of their safety are still scarce or even lacking and most data are generated in studies with active or past regular cigarette smokers. More data on the cardiovascular and metabolic side effects of vaping are warranted in people naive for smoking combustible cigarettes.