ERS delegates have been presented with yet more evidence that it is too premature to allow e-cigarettes to be marketed as a ‘safe’ alternative to conventional cigarettes.
In one study presented at the ERS congress in Milan, researchers from Sweden asked more than 30,000 people randomly selected from the general population about their smoking habits, use of e-cigarettes and respiratory symptoms.
Around 11% of people surveyed said they only smoke conventional cigarettes, while 0.6% said they only use e-cigarettes and 1.2% said they used both.
E-cigarette use was more common among people who currently smoke conventional cigarettes (9.8%), compared to former smokers (1.1%) or non -smokers (0.6%).
The results also showed that people who use both conventional cigarettes and e-cigarettes were the most likely to experience respiratory symptoms.
Among non-smokers 26% experienced any respiratory symptoms, compared with 34% of those using only e-cigarettes, 46% of those only smoking conventional cigarettes and 56% of dual users.
The results suggested that cigarette smokers might be using e-cigarettes in public places that prohibit conventional cigarettes or they were using them to help quit smoking.
Whatever the reason, the findings do not support the common argument that e-cigarettes help smokers quit, the researchers told delegates.
“We have also found that people who use both conventional and e-cigarettes are more likely to suffer wheezing, or a long standing or productive cough.
It could be that some smokers, who are already suffering these symptoms, want to quit smoking by changing to e-cigarettes but they are not managing to stop.”