A new study reveals that the guided use of e-cigarettes has helped thousands of smokers alleviate smoking respiratory symptoms of all severities.
Using data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a recently published paper in The Lancet concluded that the correct use of nicotine vaping products (NVPs) or e-cigarettes may be a key to helping smokers find relief from severe coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and other symptoms.
The study observed over 14,947 data points from cigarette smokers included in the PATH Study between 2014 to 2021. The researchers identified PATH Study participants who were smokers (had smoked in the past 30 days) and had subsequently made a complete switch from cigarettes to pharmacy NVPs.
The researchers assessed functionally-important respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing or nighttime cough, to categorise the sample size into two groups. Scores of 2 and below indicated a low symptom burden with scores of 3 and above indicating a high symptom burden.
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The scores were calculated at the starting point of the observation period (known as a ‘baseline’ score) and at the end of the observation period (the ‘follow up’ score), and the changes between the baseline and follow up scores were used to inform the study.
Better Breathing During the Night
The researchers observed that the group with a score of 2 or below experienced better breathing and less wheezing and coughing during nighttime after using NVPs.
The researchers calculated that the symptom severity the group experienced was reduced by 27% for smokers who quit completely after the observation period and 31% for those who completely switched to NVPs.
During the follow-up with the group, about 11% had completely quit cigarettes and about 3.5% had completely switched to NVPs.
Lesser Smoking Burden Severity for Long-Term Smokers
Researchers also found that participants with symptoms of 2 or above also reported significant improvements to their symptoms after using NVPs.
The data showed that respiratory symptom severity was reduced by 45.8% for those in the group that switched to NVPs. Meanwhile, participants who quit completely after the observation period reported a 42.1% reduction in symptoms.
Smokers who continued smoking cigarettes experienced a reduced benefit from NVPs, with only 27.7% reporting respiratory improvement and 15.4% reporting worsening respiratory symptoms.
More Research Still Needed
The researchers noted that switching completely from cigarettes to e-cigarettes had short-term beneficial associations with functionally important respiratory symptoms similar to quitting tobacco completely.
However, the authors clearly state that more research is needed to determine how switching to e-cigarettes affects long-term respiratory outcomes. It should also be noted that the current scientific consensus agrees that the long-term effects of prolonged NVP use are unknown.
But still, the research data shows that switching completely from cigarettes to e-cigarettes may be suitable as a second-line intervention for motivated smokers trying to quit and alleviate both the symptoms associated with smoking while helping to address the withdrawal symptoms they may be dealing with during their quit attempt.