Study Finds Vaping Significantly Increases Heart Failure Risk

In summer 2019, an outbreak in America hospitalized over 2,800 people and caused 68 deaths, likely due to a chemical in certain e-cigarettes damaging lung tissue and causing breathing issues and coughing.

After the lung injury outbreak, researchers ramped up studies on vaping risks. Five years later, long-term studies reveal that using e-cigarettes increases the risk of respiratory diseases, heart attacks, and strokes.

E-cigarette Use Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Failure

A recent study presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Cardiology further contributes to these findings. The study revealed that individuals aged 18 and above who have ever used e-cigarettes are 19% more likely to suffer from heart failure compared to those who have never used them.

Heart failure differs from a sudden heart attack; it involves the gradual weakening or stiffening of the heart, making it challenging to pump blood throughout the body.

Yakubu Bene-Alhasan, a physician and researcher at MedStar Health in Baltimore, commented on the results, stating, “More and more studies are connecting e-cigarettes to harmful effects, suggesting they may not be as safe as once believed. The observed difference was significant.”

This prospective study, the largest of its kind investigating the relationship between e-cigarettes and heart failure, has yet to undergo peer review.

Study Analyzes E-cigarette Use and Heart Failure Risk in Large US Adult Population

Bene-Alhasan and his team analyzed health data from 175,667 US adults in the NIH’s All of Us Research Program. Of these, 28,660 had used e-cigarettes, and 3,242 were diagnosed with heart failure over a four-year follow-up.

Participants with a documented history of heart failure at the study’s outset were excluded from the analysis. The researchers accounted for factors like age, gender, and other heart failure-related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and smoking habits.

About 60% of the participants were women, the majority were white, and the average age was 52. Prior to this study, larger surveys predominantly targeted younger adults, who generally have a lower incidence of heart attacks and strokes.

Compared to those who never vaped, individuals who were former or current e-cigarette users had a 19% higher risk of heart failure, specifically the type characterized by the heart muscle becoming stiff and not filling with blood properly. The researchers did not inquire about the frequency of e-cigarette use or the specific ingredients in the vapes used, such as nicotine or flavorings.

Cardiologist Raises Concerns Over Potential Harm from E-cigarette Nicotine Consumption

Yu-Ming Ni, a cardiologist at the MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute in California, expressed concerns, stating, “It raises concerns that our suspicions about e-cigarettes causing harm due to nicotine consumption may be justified.”

Nicotine is highly addictive, with young vapers three times more likely to switch to conventional cigarettes. Additionally, there’s limited evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes help quit smoking.

Additionally, vapes labeled as ‘nicotine-free’ often contain nicotine. Research indicates that even nicotine-free vapes can damage lung tissue and blood vessels. After affecting the lungs and bloodstream, the next organ in line is the heart. However, further research is required to identify the specific compounds causing harm.

Among the 28,660 e-cigarette users surveyed, those who also reported smoking cigarettes had their risk of heart failure increase by 59% compared to those who only vaped.

However, Ni points out that this observational study can only indicate associations between e-cigarette use and heart failure: “We can only establish an association between these two factors.”

Other researchers not affiliated with the study are eager for future research to examine the frequency of e-cigarette use and the varying risk levels of heart failure associated with different exposure durations.

Bene-Alhasan commented, “I believe this research is long overdue, especially considering the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes.”

“With further research, we can learn more about the potential health risks and provide better information to the public.”

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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