Association of Electronic Cigarette Use with Respiratory Symptom Development among U.S. Young Adults

Wubin Xie, Alayna P. Tackett, Jonathan B. Berlowitz, Alyssa F. Harlow, Hasmeena Kathuria, Panagis Galiatsatos, Jessica L. Fetterman, Junhan Cho, Michael J. Blaha, Naomi M. Hamburg, Rose Marie Robertson, Andrew P. DeFilippis, Michael E. Hall, Aruni Bhatnagar, Emelia J. Benjamin, Andrew C. Stokes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Rationale: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is highly prevalent among young adults. However, longitudinal data assessing the association between e-cigarette use and respiratory symptoms are lacking. Objectives: To determine whether e-cigarette use is associated with the development of respiratory symptoms in young adults. Methods: Data are derived from the PATH (Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health) study waves 2 (2014–2015), 3 (2015–2016), 4 (2016–2018), and 5 (2018–2019). Young adults aged 18–24 years at baseline with no prevalent respiratory disease or symptoms were included in the analyses. Binary logistic regression models with a generalized estimating equation were used to estimate time-varying and time-lagged associations of e-cigarette use during waves 2–4, with respiratory symptom development approximately 12 months later at waves 3–5. Measurements and Main Results: The per-wave prevalence of former and current e-cigarette use was 15.2% and 5.6%, respectively. Former e-cigarette use was associated with higher odds of developing any respiratory symptom (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.39) and wheezing in the chest (aOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.08–1.83) in multivariable adjusted models. Current e-cigarette use was associated with higher odds for any respiratory symptom (aOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.06–1.65) and wheezing in the chest (aOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.06–2.14). Associations persisted among participants who never smoked combustible cigarettes. Conclusions: In this nationally representative cohort of young adults, former and current e-cigarette use was associated with higher odds of developing wheezing-related respiratory symptoms, after accounting for cigarette smoking and other combustible tobacco product use.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1320-1329
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
Volume205
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2022

Keywords

  • electronic cigarette use
  • respiratory signs and symptoms
  • tobacco use in young adults

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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