How Electronic Cigarette Affects the Vascular System.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Vascular Biology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Electronic cigarette popularity has surged globally.
• The vascular health effects of electronic cigarette use remain largely unclear.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review current evidence on the vascular effects of electronic cigarette use.
• To synthesize findings from human and animal studies.
• To identify key adverse vascular outcomes associated with vaping.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of MEDLINE (PubMed) from January 2016 to August 2021.
• Inclusion of studies on chronic electronic cigarette use in humans and animals.
• Risk of bias assessment using established tools (Cochrane Risk of Bias 2, NIH Quality Assessment, SYRCLE's Risk of Bias).
• Narrative synthesis of evidence from 16 included studies.

Main Results:

• Electronic cigarette use is associated with increased oxidative stress.
• Findings indicate a link to endothelial dysfunction and inflammation.
• Evidence suggests electronic cigarette use contributes to arterial stiffness and atherosclerotic lesion development.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence links electronic cigarette use to significant adverse vascular events.
• Vaping may promote conditions like oxidative stress, inflammation, and atherosclerosis.
• Further research is necessary to elucidate the precise mechanisms of electronic cigarette impact on the vascular system.