A newly published study in the Journal of Oncology Research and Therapy has revealed an alarming link between the use of electronic cigarettes and conventional cigarettes, suggesting a fourfold increased risk of developing lung cancer when using both compared to smoking alone.
Leading physicians from the Therapeutic Clinic at the Alexandra Hospital in Greece, Professor Theodora Psaltopoulou, Dr Angeliki Andrikopoulou, and Professor Thanos Dimopoulos of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, have highlighted the devastating impact of lung cancer, which is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths globally, claiming over 1.8 million lives annually. A staggering 87% of these cases are directly attributed to long-term tobacco use.
Since the launch of the first commercially available electronic cigarette in China in 2003, marketed as ‘Ruhan’, there has been a growing perception that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative, as they deliver only nicotine without the cocktail of other toxic and carcinogenic substances found in traditional cigarettes.
However, research in the USA, Western Europe, China, and Russia indicates a worrying trend, with approximately one in five adolescents and one in three adults now turning to vaping. Globally, it is estimated that 70 million people were using electronic cigarettes by 2020.
This particular study analysed data from 4,975 patients diagnosed with lung cancer at the James Cancer Hospital, part of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and compared them with a control group of 27,294 healthy smokers without cancer. All participants were from the same geographical area in Ohio and shared similar clinical characteristics, such as age and gender.
The findings revealed that the concurrent use of electronic and conventional cigarettes was a staggering eight times more prevalent among cancer patients than in the healthy population.
Moreover, the risk of developing lung cancer was four times higher in patients who used both products, and this elevated risk remained consistent across all subgroups, irrespective of gender, the histological type of lung cancer, and the extent of smoking history measured in pack-years.
Lead researcher on the study, Professor Randall Harris of Ohio State University, comments, “Our findings provide the first concrete evidence that smoking in combination with electronic cigarettes significantly increases the risk of lung cancer when compared to smoking alone.” He further emphasises the importance of understanding the dangers posed by the chemicals present in both types of cigarettes.
The researchers conclude by urging authorities to consider the implications of dual product use when formulating anti-smoking legislation to effectively protect public health, especially regarding the regulation of inhaled flavours and nicotine.
Marisa Bittoni, PhD, a researcher at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and an author on the study, expresses concern, stating, “From a public health perspective, we have always been worried about the dual use of electronic and conventional cigarettes, and now this study provides compelling evidence that this combination significantly increases the risk of lung cancer. This is particularly alarming when we consider the growing popularity of these products among younger individuals.”
(information from ygeiamou.gr)
