Skip to main content

Transitioning to E-Cigarettes Aids Resolution of Respiratory Symptoms

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 13, 2024.

via HealthDay

TUESDAY, Nov. 12, 2024 -- Transitioning from cigarettes to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is associated with resolution of respiratory symptoms, but the rate of resolution is reduced among those who switch to dual use or maintain or increase smoking intensity, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

Jonathan B. Berlowitz, M.D., from the Boston University School of Public Health, and colleagues examined whether transitioning from cigarettes to e-cigarettes is associated with resolution of respiratory symptoms using data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study waves 1 to 5. Observations with cigarette−e-cigarette exposure intervals determined from PATH waves 1 to 2, 2 to 3, and 3 to 4 were included for participants who reported exclusively smoking at baseline and reported a baseline cough or wheeze.

The researchers found that compared with persistent smoking, transitioning from cigarettes to e-cigarettes was associated with increased rates of wheeze resolution (incidence rate ratio, 1.33; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.75), but not with cough resolution (incidence rate ratio, 1.18; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.93 to 1.50) among 5,210 observations. There was no association seen for cigarette to dual-use transitions with improvements in symptom resolution. Compared with persistent smoking, whose who switched to dual use and maintained or increased their smoking intensity had 15 percent reduced rates of respiratory symptom resolution.

"Whereas cigarette users who switch completely to e-cigarettes may experience respiratory symptom improvements, those unable to reduce their smoking intensity may face increased risk of respiratory morbidity," the authors write. "This difference is concerning as U.S. cigarette users are far more likely to transition to dual use than to exclusive e-cigarette use."

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Digital Inhaler May Predict Acute COPD Exacerbations

TUESDAY, July 1, 2025 -- Digital inhalers may help predict the occurrence of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for patients in an ambulatory...

Moderate-to-Severe Asthma Up for Female Permanent Night Shift Workers

THURSDAY, June 26, 2025 -- Female permanent night shift workers have higher odds of moderate-to-severe asthma than female day workers, but this relationship is not seen in men...

Passive Digital Marker Can Identify Childhood Asthma Risk

TUESDAY, June 17, 2025 -- It is feasible to use electronic health record (EHR) data in the Pediatric Asthma Risk Score (PARS) to accurately predict childhood asthma risk...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.