Research Article
Changes in the Frequency of Airway Infections in Smokers Who Switched To Vaping: Results of an Online Survey
Joanna Astrid Miler1*, Bernhard-Michael Mayer2 and Peter Hajek11Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK
2Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Graz, Austria
- *Corresponding Author:
- Joanna Astrid Miler
Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Queen Mary University of London, Health and Lifestyle Research Unit, UK
Tel: (0044) 207 882 8230
Fax: (0044) 207 3777237
E-mail: j.miler@qmul.ac.uk
Received date: July 04, 2016; Accepted date: July 30, 2016; Published date: Aug 05, 2016
Citation: Miler JA, Mayer BM, Hajek P (2016) Changes in the Frequency of Airway Infections in Smokers who Switched to Vaping: Results of an Online Survey. J Addict Res Ther 7:290. doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000290
Copyright: © 2016 Miler JA, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Background and aim: Cell and animal studies suggested that use of e-cigarettes may increase vulnerability to respiratory infection, though the available studies have serious limitations. Limited data are available on respiratory health of vapers.
Methods: An on-line survey assessed subjective changes in respiratory symptoms in smokers who switched to vaping for at least two months.
Results: Among 941 responders, 29% reported no change in respiratory symptoms, 5% reported worsening, and 66% reported an improvement. Among qualitative comments, 232 elaborated on positive and 15 on negative experiences.
Conclusion: The switch from smoking to vaping was associated with a reduced incidence of self-reported respiratory infections. Further studies using objective measures in samples that are not self-selected are needed.
