Patterns of E-Cigarette Use Among Cardiac Inpatients at a Tertiary-Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are marketed for smoking cessation, despite potential health risks.
• E-cigarette use is associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, and mental health issues.
• Understanding e-cigarette usage patterns is crucial for clinical guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of e-cigarette use among cardiac inpatients.
• To inform clinical strategies for managing e-cigarette use in cardiovascular patients.

Main Methods:

• A survey of consecutive cardiac inpatients at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (November 2019 - May 2020).
• In-person or telephone surveys were conducted.
• Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyzed vaping status.

Main Results:

• 1089 patients completed the survey; 10.3% had ever vaped, 5.5% were current vapers.
• Among ever-users, 66.1% used e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.
• Younger age, tobacco co-use, secondhand smoke exposure at home, and lower education were linked to e-cigarette use.

Conclusions:

• E-cigarette use was relatively low in this cardiac inpatient population.
• Factors associated with use highlight the need for advising patients on reducing environmental tobacco and e-cigarette exposure.
• Further research in diverse settings is needed to confirm generalizability and clinical impact.