Spirometric review in adolescents who use E-Cigarettes

Abstract

Introduction: The use of electronic cigarettes or vaping devices (EC/V) has represented a global health problem in the last decade. Their use by the adolescent population is of great concern because the long-term effects that they could cause are unknown. Information on the situation and prevalence of the use of CE/V in Venezuela has not been documented and the use of these devices can cause nicotine addiction that develops quickly in young people, potentially facilitating the use of combustion tobacco or other illicit drugs. Objective: Determine altered breathing patterns and presence of changes in the airway in adolescents who use CE/V. Methods: Observational, descriptive study that included a group of high school adolescents from a school in Caracas. A survey was conducted asking about aspects related to the use of CE/V, then a physical examination and spirometry. Numerical means were compared through the student's T and P value. Results: The use of CE/V in the study group was frequent. The presence of associated risk behaviors such as alcohol intake was evident. In spirometry, CE/V users had FEV1/FVC and FEF values ​​that were 25-75% lower than non-users, although there was no significant difference between both groups. Conclusion: The use of CE/V constitutes an important risk for adolescents. The alterations produced by CE/V are progressive and long-term, so close monitoring of these patients is important.