Researchers at UTHealth Houston have identified a significant link between electronic cigarette use and an earlier age of asthma onset in U.S. adults. The findings were published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.
The study, led by Adriana Pérez, PhD, MS, professor of biostatistics and data science at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, found that adults who were initially asthma-free but reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days had a 252% increased risk of developing asthma at an earlier age.
“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 Pérez, who is also affiliated with the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living. “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 research team analyzed secondary data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a national longitudinal study examining tobacco use and its health effects on both adults and youths in the U.S.
“The findings 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 stated. “It also highlights the importance of modifying screening guidelines to incorporate recent use of e-cigarettes, which could lead to earlier detection and treatment of asthma.”
According to Pérez, addressing this health burden is crucial as asthma results in $300 billion annually due to missed school or workdays, mortality, and medical costs as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The authors advocate for enhanced tobacco regulations, prevention campaigns, intervention strategies, and cessation programs to mitigate early-age asthma onset due to e-cigarette usage.
Melissa B. Harrell, PhD, MPH, professor of epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health served as senior author. Co-authors included Pushan P. Jani, MD, MSc from McGovern Medical School’s Department of Internal Medicine and Sarah Valencia from Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living.
“There is a lot we have yet to learn,” noted Jani. “But what we do know is that nicotine products pose serious health risks that need proactive measures.”
Looking ahead, Pérez indicated plans to explore potential links between e-cigarette use and early cancer onset to further understand nicotine products' health implications.
The study received funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R21HL1655401), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with support from the Food and Drug Administration Center for Tobacco Products.
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