University of East Anglia

Academic Institute

Ian Pope

OFHS230101

The overarching aim of this study is to find out whether e-cigarettes (also known as vapes) are harmful to human health. Initially, this study will identify the number of people registered with 'Our Future Health' who vape regularly but have never smoked tobacco. This will allow us to design a study looking at the levels of harmful chemicals in blood samples for this group in comparison to two other groups (1) those who have never vaped or smoked and (2) those who currently smoke tobacco but have never vaped. In the long term we would like to follow people up to find out if those who use e-cigarettes are at increased risk of diseases because of their use of e-cigarettes and how these risks compare with people who smoke tobacco cigarettes. E-cigarettes have been used by people for around 20 years. We know they are very likely to be much less harmful than smoking. However we don't yet fully understand what effect they may have on human health. Chemicals in the blood that are linked to developing diseases in the future have been shown to be lower in those who use an e-cigarette compared to smoking tobacco. Some chemicals are higher in people who use an e-cigarette in comparison to those who don't. Very few studies have been done in the UK, most have taken part in laboratory settings rather than 'real world' and very few included people who were vaping regularly but had never smoked tobacco. This study will start to tell us what effects e-cigarettes have on human health, using both measures of potential harm (biomarkers) in the short term, and actual clinical outcomes in the long term.

There is uncertainty regarding the risks e-cigarettes pose to those who use them. This initial research will help us to design a study which will provide valuable information to e-cigarette users regarding potential health risks. The study will also identify a group of participants in 'our future health' who could be followed-up to establish long term clinical outcomes. These results will inform policy making regarding the regulation of e-cigarettes and guide future research

Public Health Research

05/01/2024

TRE