Abstract: The use of electronic cigarettes, otherwise known as vaping, has dramatically increased among college students within recent years. Vaping has been marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes, however, there is minimal research studying potential adverse effects of vaping. PURPOSE: To identify any potential relationships between e-cigarette use and clinical indicators of pulmonary function. METHODS: Pulmonary function of 10 vaping subjects (VAPE) and 17 control subjects (CON) were assessed through performance of a forced vital capacity (FVC) test. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1.0) and FVC were measured using a spirometer (ParvoMedics, TrueOne 2400, Sandy, UT). Height and body compositions were measured using a stadiometer and bioelectrical impedance (InBody 720, Cerritos, CA). Subjects completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to assess physical activity levels. Inclusion criteria for potential VAPE subjects required participants to be habitual users of electronic cigarettes for at least 6 months. Exclusion criteria for potential VAPE subjects included regular use of combustible cigarettes or any other combustible inhalant that is not an e-cigarette. Exclusion criteria for potential CON subjects included regular use of any combustible inhalant. Comparisons between groups were made using 2-tailed, unpaired t-tests. Results: FEV1.0/FVC was found to be significantly lower in vape subjects (77.9±8.0%) compared to CON subjects (84.2±5.1%) (p-value < 0.05). IPAQ scores, body compositions, and heights between VAPE and CON subjects were not found to significantly differ (p-value > 0.05). Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that habitual use of electronic cigarettes appears to correspond with decreases in FEV1.0/FVC percentages, suggesting that vaping may contribute to decreased expiratory lung capacities and potentially increased risk for diagnosis of chronic lung diseases over time. This study has limitations due to the small sample size per group and the self reported data for the IPAQ, Patient Health Questionaire (PHQ-9), and General Self Efficacy Scale (GSE).
Author: Anthony Camerieri
Advisors: Kyle Timmerman, Phil Smith
Graduate Advisor: Morgan Manski
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