M. May Zhang, PharmD Candidate

Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), or vaping, has drastically increased in recent years, primarily among young adults. About 1 in 5 young adults use e-cigarettes regularly, and 1 in 4 believe that e-cigarettes are harmless and nonaddictive.

E-cigarettes aerosolize nicotine mixed with flavoring and preservative agents. Though combustible tobacco products, such as cigarettes and cigars, are widely recognized as causes of respiratory disease, e-cigarettes are often promoted as safe alternatives. However, studies show that vaping leads to chronic pulmonary inflammation, tissue damage, oxidative stress, and mucus hypersecretion.

shows the first population-based, longitudinal analysis of the relationship between e-cigarettes and respiratory disease. The researchers used data from 32,320 participants in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, a national population-based study led by the NIH and FDA.

At baseline and over 2 years, researchers noted whether respondents had respiratory disease, used e-cigarettes, and/or used combustible tobacco products.

A number of subjects reported both respiratory disease and e-cigarette use at baseline. Even after controlling for confounding factors that included age, BMI, poverty level, and combustible tobacco smoking, there was a significant association between former or current e-cigarette use and the risk of respiratory disease.

is a 2022 PharmD Candidate at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Tallent A. National Survey Reveals One in Five Young Adults Regularly Uses E-Cigarettes and Believes They are Harmless, Not Addictive. American Society of Clinical Oncology. https://www.asco.org/about-asco/press-center/news-releases/national-survey-reveals-one-five-young-adults-regularly-uses-e. Published September 26, 2019. Accessed January 10, 2020.

Bhatta DN, Glantz SA. Association of E-Cigarette Use With Respiratory Disease Among Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis.

. December 2019. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2019.07.028.

Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) - Home. National Institutes of Health. https://pathstudyinfo.nih.gov/UI/HomeMobile.aspx. Accessed January 10, 2020.

Articles

As vaping continues to grow in popularity, it becomes increasingly critical to correct misconceptions about its safety and long-term effects.

New Study Shows that E-Cigarette Use Is an Independent Risk Factor for Respiratory Disease

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric disorder worldwide, and the rate of diagnosis has increased significantly over the past decade. As of 2016, an estimated 6.1 million American children had been diagnosed with ADHD.

ADHD is correlated with lower health-related quality of life that starts in childhood and can persist into adulthood. Previous studies associate ADHD with decreased academic performance and physical activity, and increased odds of screen time, overeating, and obesity. Effective treatment requires a combination of pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches.

The existing literature shows that regular physical activity is a beneficial adjunct treatment. Previous studies have demonstrated many benefits of exercise in children with ADHD, including improvement in core symptoms, test scores, sleep, mood, and social disorders.

recently published a study that analyzed the relationship between ADHD diagnosis and engagement in physical activity. The researchers studied data from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), a caregiver-reported survey conducted by the US Census Bureau. The final study population included 34,675 children ranging in age from 6 years to 17 years.

The study found that children diagnosed with ADHD had 21% lower odds of engaging in daily physical activity than nondiagnosed children, confirming the inverse association shown by previous studies. The researchers further qualified the relationship by studying the association between ADHD and different degrees of activity. Diagnosed children were increasingly less likely to participate in 1-3 days, 4-6 days, and 7 days per week of exercise, respectively.

ADHD is correlated with lower health-related quality of life that starts in childhood and can persist into adulthood.

M. May Zhang, PharmD Candidate

Articles

New Study Shows that E-Cigarette Use Is an Independent Risk Factor for Respiratory Disease

Study Finds Children with ADHD are Less Physically Active