People who use e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to develop heart failure compared with those who have never vaped, according to one of the largest studies investigating possible links between vaping and heart failure.
For the study, researchers examined data from surveys and electronic health records of 175,667 participants. They found that those who used e-cigarettes were 19% more likely to develop heart failure. The connection didn’t vary by age, gender, or smoking status.
“The difference we saw was substantial. It’s worth considering the consequences to your health, especially with regard to heart health,” the study’s lead author and resident physician at MedStar Health in Baltimore, Yakubu Bene-Alhasan, said in a statement.
The study supports previous research, which showed links between vaping and some risk factors associated with heart failure.
“More and more studies are linking e-cigarettes to harmful effects and finding that it might not be as safe as previously thought,” Bene-Alhasan said.
Researchers said the new study shows a need for more investigations into the potential impacts of vaping on heart health, especially considering the number of people who use e-cigarettes. According to the FDA’s National Youth Tobacco survey, more than 7% of high school students reported using e-cigs. In 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General called youth e-cigarette use an epidemic.