Cigarette smoking is linked to biological changes that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, for people who only use e-cigarettes, researchers found no statistically significant association. This is the result of a new analysis of data from the large US PATH study.
The debate on e-cigarettes is often polarised. Some argue that vejp use may pose similar risks of cardiovascular disease as smoking, while other researchers argue that the level of risk is likely to be significantly lower.
In the new study, researchers tried to approach the question by analysing so-called biomarkers - substances in the body that can give clues about disease risk. The study was recently published in the scientific journal Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association.
Traces of inflammation in smokers
The researchers analysed a large number of biomarkers in people who smoke, use e-cigarettes or do not use tobacco products at all.
Two of them stood out: hsCRP and sICAM-1, both of which are linked to inflammation in the body.
People who smoked cigarettes had, on average, higher levels of these substances than people who did not use tobacco products. At the same time, the biomarkers could statistically explain the higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease among smokers.
According to the researchers, this suggests that chronic inflammation is an important mechanism behind how smoking affects the cardiovascular system.
No significant increase in risk in vejpande
Instead, when the researchers compared people who only use e-cigarettes with people who do not use nicotine products at all, the results were different.
The analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the incidence of cardiovascular disease between the groups. The researchers also found no clear differences in the levels of the biomarkers studied.
This does not mean that e-cigarettes are completely risk-free, but according to the researchers, the results suggest that the biological changes that are clearly visible in smokers are not seen in the same way in people who only use vejp.
Can help researchers understand the risks
The researchers also emphasise that the two inflammation markers may be useful to better understand how smoking affects cardiovascular health.
By analysing the levels of hsCRP and sICAM-1 together, researchers can get a clearer picture of the disease risk associated with cigarette smoking.
At the same time, the researchers emphasise that the study has limitations and that more research is needed to draw more definite conclusions about the long-term effects of e-cigarettes.
