A Texas A&M University study shows that e-cigarettes increase the risk of asthma in young nonsmokers, identifies associated risk factors, and calls for public health measures to reduce e-cigarette use among young people. There is.
This study highlights the urgent need to develop approaches to address the rising prevalence of e-cigarette uptake and its negative health effects.
A recent study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health found that e-cigarettes may increase the risk of asthma in young people who do not smoke traditional tobacco products.
The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among adolescents has increased dramatically over the past few years. Although e-cigarettes contain fewer toxins than regular cigarettes, they still contain a cocktail of harmful chemicals that increase the risk of respiratory illness.
Research results on e-cigarettes and asthma
In this new study published in preventive medicine, researchers analyzed data from a national survey of young people to determine whether there was a link between e-cigarettes and asthma. Researchers also sought to identify factors that may be associated with e-cigarette use among adolescents.
The research team used data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, a national health dataset set up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track health behaviors and outcomes in children and youth. The study used data collected between 2015 and 2019, including information on e-cigarette use. The analysis included data from more than 3,000 youth ages 13 to 17 in Texas and more than 32,000 youth in the United States for comparison.
The survey asked respondents whether they had ever used e-cigarettes, how many days in the past 30 days they had used e-cigarettes, and whether a health care professional had ever told them they had asthma. The study includes information on respondents’ gender, age, race, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and presence or absence of symptoms of depression. The analysis also includes data on the use of other substances, including traditional cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drugs.
Correlation and risk factors
This study confirmed the association between e-cigarette use and asthma in young people who have never smoked traditional tobacco products. This indicates that e-cigarettes increase the risk of asthma independently of the use of traditional tobacco products in young people.
Researchers also found evidence that some demographic factors, behaviors associated with drug use, and the presence of depressive symptoms were associated with e-cigarette use. Young people who used traditional cigarettes, alcohol, and other substances were more likely to use e-cigarettes, as were depressed subjects.
Additionally, Hispanic youth in Texas were significantly less likely to have used e-cigarettes than non-Hispanic white youth. However, researchers found that there were no notable differences between races and ethnicities in the United States as a whole. Further research is needed to identify factors that may be associated with decreased e-cigarette use among Hispanic youth in Texas.
Recommendations and conclusions
“Increasing knowledge about the harmful effects of e-cigarette use, introducing stricter regulations, and promoting alternative coping mechanisms for mental health are potential interventions to reduce e-cigarette use.” “Yes,” said Dr. Taehyung Lo, lead author of the study.
Given the burden of asthma and the increasing use of e-cigarettes among adolescents, researchers hope these findings will help inform public health efforts to reduce e-cigarette use. ing.
Reference: “The Association between E-Cigarette Use and Asthma in U.S. Youth: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2015-2019,” by Taehyun Roh, Kido Uyamasi, Anisha Aggarwal, Alexander Obeng, and Jenny Carrillo, September 2023. Four days, preventive medicine.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107695
Source: scitechdaily.com
