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. 2023 Dec 27;116(12):993-1001.
doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcad210.

The Emerging Cloud: a survey of vapers, their health and utilization of healthcare within the UK

L J Sund  1   2   3 , P I Dargan  2   3 , J R H Archer  2   3 , M S Blundell  1   2 , D M Wood  2   3
Affiliations

The Emerging Cloud: a survey of vapers, their health and utilization of healthcare within the UK

L J Sund et al. QJM. .

Abstract

Background: Recent work in the UK estimated the prevalence of current cannabinoid-based vaping to be higher than in the USA, a factor previously associated with e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI). Research in the USA has demonstrated that attendances to emergency departments relating to e-cigarettes began to rise before the EVALI outbreak, suggesting that vapers also experience milder forms of vaping-related illness.

Aim: Quantify symptom prevalence and healthcare utilization amongst current UK vapers.

Design: Voluntary online survey of individuals aged 16 and over within the UK.

Methods: Anonymized data were collected on demographics, vaping/smoking status and vaping substances used. Current vapers were asked about the presence of 10 prevalent symptoms from previous US EVALI case series, healthcare attendances and diagnoses given. Risk-ratios were calculated to compare the likelihood of symptoms and attendances between substances.

Results: A total of 2477 complete responses were analysed. In all, 397 respondents were current vapers. Symptom prevalence within the previous 12 months ranged from 3.8% to 30.5% (bloody sputum, cough). Healthcare attendances per symptomatic respondent ranged from 0.1 to 1.4 (bloody sputum, shortness of breath). Current vapers of cannabinoid-based products (alone/in combination) had the most attendances per symptomatic respondent for 9/10 symptoms and were more likely to report symptoms aside from 'cough' (nicotine-free e-liquids [risk ratio = 1.7]). Clinicians reportedly never diagnosed vaping-related illness.

Conclusions: UK vapers experience symptoms previously reported in EVALI cases for which they also seek healthcare. Users of cannabinoid-based products were more likely to report symptoms and accounted for a higher healthcare burden. UK vapers may also experience vaping-related illness that does not meet EVALI case criteria.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Symptom prevalence amongst ‘current’ vapers and respondent views of vaping impact on symptom frequency.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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