Electronic Cigarette (E-Cig) Use in the Chronic Pain Population.

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Tobacco Control
• Public Health

Background:

• Electronic cigarettes (E-Cigs) use has risen since 2007, posing health risks similar to traditional tobacco products.
• A bidirectional link exists between pain and tobacco use, yet E-Cig impact on chronic pain and opioid association is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess tobacco product usage, including E-Cigs, within a chronic pain patient cohort.
• To investigate the correlation between E-Cig use and opioid utilization in individuals with chronic pain.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted anonymously among established chronic pain patients at an urban academic teaching center.
• Data collected included demographics, history of tobacco, cigarette, E-Cig, and opioid use from adult patients treated for over three months.

Main Results:

• Out of 312 surveyed patients, 26.9% used chronic opioids. Past E-Cig experimentation was reported by 4.5% of women and 15.8% of men, with active use at 0% and 7.8% respectively.
• Among patients on chronic opioids, 9.1% actively used E-Cigs, all of whom were male (20% of male opioid users).

Conclusions:

• The study suggests E-Cig and cigarette smoking rates in chronic pain patients align with the general US adult population.
• A significant correlation was observed between tobacco product use (cigarettes and E-Cigs) and opioid use in this cohort.
• Further research is warranted to monitor the evolving relationship between E-Cig use, chronic pain, and opioid dependence as E-Cig prevalence increases.