Reducing harm with e-cigs

Electronic cigarette use may reverse some of the harm resulting from tobacco smoking in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a PR Newswire story – relayed by the TMA – based on a study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Dr. Riccardo Polosa, MD, PhD, the director of the Institute for Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology at the University of Catania, Italy.
The study found too that e-cigarette use may improve COPD outcomes over the long term.
The researchers evaluated changes in objective and subjective respiratory parameters among 44 COPD patients and compared those who stopped smoking or substantially reduced it by switching to e-cigarette use with COPD patients who were smokers not using e-cigarettes at the time of the study.
They found that after three years, the group’s patients significantly reduced their smoking, and had reduced respiratory infections and COPD exacerbations. Their respiratory physiology was not worsened by e-cigarette use and their overall health status and physical activity improved consistently.
Improved outcomes were even seen among dual users.
Co-researcher Dr. Caruso said, “the finding that COPD exacerbations were halved in patients who stopped or considerably reduced their smoking habit following switching to ECs was an important finding that confirms the potential for harm reversal of these products”.