Investigating the Long-Term Health Effects of E-Cigarette Use: A Systematic Review of Chronic Respiratory and Cardiovascular Outcomes

Project Abstract

The increasing prevalence of e-cigarette use has raised public health concerns regarding its long-term effects on the human cardiopulmonary system. Although marketed as a less harmful alternative to traditional tobacco products, emerging evidence suggests that e-cigarettes may pose significant health risks, particularly in chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to evaluate the long-term respiratory and cardiovascular health effects of e-cigarette use. Comprehensive searches across multiple databases identified 20 articles that met the inclusion criteria. These included cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and reviews. A thematic analysis was employed to synthesize the findings. Thematic analysis revealed strong associations between frequent e-cigarette use and COPD, asthma, and impaired lung function. Cardiovascular risks included increased odds of myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, endothelial dysfunction, and arterial stiffness. Several studies also noted elevated oxidative stress and altered heart rate variability among users. Notably, older adults and daily users exhibited significantly higher health risks. However, the predominance of cross-sectional data and the lack of studies on exclusive e-cigarette users limited causal interpretations. The evidence indicates that e-cigarette use contributes to systemic harm beyond the respiratory tract, affecting cardiovascular health through mechanisms such as nicotine-induced sympathetic activation and endothelial damage. The findings emphasize the need for more longitudinal and experimental research to better isolate the effects of vaping and assess severity across demographic groups. E-cigarettes pose significant long-term health risks, particularly for older adults and frequent users. Comprehensive, long-term studies are urgently needed to inform policy, clinical guidelines, and targeted public health interventions

Conference

Conference Name: APHA 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo

Dates: November 2- 5th, 2025

Conference Website: https://apha.confex.com/apha/2025/meetingapp.cgi/Home/0

Sponsoring Body:

Funding Type

Travel Grant

Academic College

Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Area/Major/Minor

Occupational Safety and Health

Degree

Masters Degree in Occupational Safety and Health

Classification

Graduate

Name

Dr. Oluwabunmi Dada

Academic College

Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology

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