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Published on: October 22, 2020
Association between E-cigarette use and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in non-asthmatic adults in the USA
Godfred O Antwi1, Darson L Rhodes1
1Department of Public Health and Health Education, SUNY Brockport, 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport, NY 14420, USA.
Background:
Concern about the health impacts of e-cigarette use is growing; however, limited research exists regarding potential long-term health effects of this behavior. This study explored the relationship between e-cigarette use and COPD in a sample of US adults.
Methods:
A secondary data analysis using data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey in the USA was computed to examine associations between e-cigarette use and COPD controlling for conventional cigarette smoking status, past month leisure physical activity and demographic characteristics including age, sex, education, race, marital status and body mass index.
Results:
Significant associations between e-cigarette use and COPD among former combustible cigarette smokers and those who reported never using combustible cigarettes were found. Compared with never e-cigarette users, the odds of having COPD were significantly greater for daily e-cigarette users (OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.11-2.03), occasional users (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.13-1.80) and former users (OR = 1.46 95% CI: 1.28-1.67).
Conclusions:
Findings from this study indicate a potential link between e-cigarette use and COPD. Further research to explore the potential effects of e-cigarette on COPD is recommended.
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