CVD Biomarker Levels Up for Dual Use of E-Cigarettes, Cigarettes

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Similar levels of biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress are seen for dual use of electronic cigarettes and cigarettes and exclusive cigarette use, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in Circulation.

Andrew C. Stokes, Ph.D., from the American Heart Association Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center in Dallas, and colleagues examined the correlation of cigarette and e-cigarette use behaviors with biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress among adults aged 18 years and older from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Participants were classified based on cigarette/e-cigarette use in the previous 30 days: nonuse, exclusive e-cigarette use, exclusive cigarette use, and dual use.

Of 7,130 participants, 58.6, 1.9, 29.6, and 9.9 percent reported nonuse, exclusive e-cigarette use, exclusive cigarette use, and dual use, respectively. The researchers found similar inflammatory and oxidative stress profiles for nonuse and exclusive e-cigarette use in the multivariable models. Compared with nonuse, exclusive smoking and dual use had higher levels across all biomarkers. Exclusive e-cigarette use had significantly lower levels of almost all inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers other than high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, compared with exclusive smoking. Comparable levels of all five inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers were seen for dual use and exclusive smoking.

“The results could be used to counsel patients about the potential risk of using both cigarettes and e-cigarettes,” Stokes said in a statement.

One author disclosed financial ties to Ethicon Inc.

Abstract/Full Text