Effects of Daily Electronic Cigarette Use on the Vocal Mechanism: A Multimodality Study

Area of Science:

• Vocal cord function and respiratory health
• Electronic cigarette use impact on the vocal tract

Background:

• Electronic cigarette use is prevalent among young adults.
• Potential health impacts of electronic cigarettes on the respiratory and vocal systems are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare voice, cough, and dyspnea symptoms, aerodynamics, and laryngeal kinematics between young adult electronic cigarette users and nonusers.
• To investigate the relationship between electronic cigarette use characteristics and symptom/kinematic outcomes.

Main Methods:

• 26 electronic cigarette users and 39 nonusers completed symptom questionnaires.
• Aerodynamic measures (peak expiratory flow, vital capacity) and laryngeal kinematics via high-speed videoendoscopy were assessed.
• Regression analyses explored the impact of use duration, frequency, and co-use with marijuana.

Main Results:

• Electronic cigarette users reported significantly more voice and cough symptoms.
• Longer duration of use and marijuana co-use correlated with increased symptoms.
• Electronic cigarette users showed reduced vocal fold adductory velocities and altered laryngeal kinematic parameters.

Conclusions:

• Daily electronic cigarette use in young adults is associated with increased voice/cough symptoms and subtle laryngeal kinematic changes.
• Aerodynamics of voice and cough were not significantly affected.
• Further research is needed on duration and marijuana co-use effects in electronic cigarette users.