Electronic Cigarettes: Impact on Lung Function and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Among Healthy Adults

• Main Authors: Sultan Ayoub Meo MD PhD, Muhammad Abdullah Ansary MD, Fahad Rayan Barayan MD, Abdulaziz Sulaiman Almusallam MD, Abdulrahman Muteb Almehaid MD, Nawaf Saad Alarifi MD, Thamer Abdulnasir Alsohaibani MD, Inam Zia MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-02-01
• Series: American Journal of Men's Health
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988318806073

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are rapidly becoming an alternative form of nicotine consumption worldwide and a disruptive element in the global health diplomacy. This study aimed to investigate the impact of e-cigarettes on lung function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) among young healthy male adults. Sixty apparently healthy male volunteers were recruited and divided into two groups. Group 1 (e-cigarette-exposed group) consisted of 30 males who were daily e-cigarette users (age 27.07 ± 6.00 [mean ± SD ] years). Group 2 (control group) consisted of 30 males who were not e-cigarette users (age 25.90 ± 7.72 [mean ± SD ] years). Both groups were neither current nor former traditional tobacco users. Age, ethnicity, height, weight, and socioeconomic status were considered using a matched design to investigate the impact of e-cigarette use on lung function and FeNO. The lung function test parameters that were found to be significantly decreased in e-cigarette users compared to their control group were forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1 ), forced expiratory ratio (FEV 1 /FVC), forced expiratory flow—25% (FEF 25% ), forced expiratory flow—50% (FEF 50% ), forced expiratory flow—75% (FEF 75% ), forced expiratory flow—25%–75% (FEF 25%–75% ), and forced expiratory flow—75%–85% (FEF 75%–85% ). FeNO was also decreased in e-cigarette users, but it did not reach the level of significance. The use of e-cigarettes significantly impaired various lung function parameters and the pattern of impairment exhibited a peripheral obstructive airway involvement. These findings have a general message for the global health community on the potential harm of e-cigarettes on lung function.