Study: E-cig use raises risk of early development of asthma 252%

Studies show vaping may contribute to the development of asthma. (Image from Very Well Health) 

Kentucky Health News

There is a significant link between vaping and asthma in adults, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open.

The study found that adults who did not have any asthma symptomps at the beginning of the study and reported e-cigarette use in the past 30 days increased their risk of developing asthma at an earlier age by 252%.

“While previous studies have reported that e-cigarette use increases the risk of asthma, our study was the first to examine the age of asthma onset,” said first author Adriana Pérez, professor of biostatistics and data science at the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health. “Measuring the potential risk of earlier age of asthma onset as it relates to past 30-day e-cigarette use may help people from starting use or motivate them to stop.”

The study used data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a national longitudinal study of tobacco use and how it affects the health of adults and youths in the U.S.

“The findings of the study underscore the need for further research, particularly regarding the impact of e-cigarette use on youth and its association with early age of asthma onset and other respiratory conditions,” Pérez said in a news release. The study says the lack of youth impact "could be due to a lack of statistical power."

"Pérez said the study highlights the need to address the health burden of asthma, which results in $300 billion in annual losses due to missed school or workdays, mortality, and medical costs according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," the release says. "Tobacco regulations, prevention, intervention campaigns, and cessation programs are needed to prevent early age of asthma onset due to e-cigarette use, the authors wrote."