Do Young Individuals With Chronic E-Cigarette Exposure Display Cardiopulmonary Abnormalities During Exercise and Blunted Recruitment of Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity?

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of e-cigarette use is increasing, and young adults who report e-cigarette use and no history of tobacco smoking report greater respiratory symptoms. Traditional evaluation of resting pulmonary function may fail to detect subclinical abnormalities. RESEARCH QUESTION: To what extent do otherwise healthy, young adults who report regular e-cigarette use and no tobacco smoking history exhibit altered cardiopulmonary function during exercise and blunted recruitment of pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (Dlco)? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: output nadir), exertional dyspnea, and operating lung volumes during exercise. A secondary aim investigated recruitment of resting Dlco and its components, measured as the change from the seated to supine posture. Adjusted linear regression models were used to evaluate the effect of group on key outcome variables at rest and during exercise. RESULTS: . INTERPRETATION: In this study, otherwise healthy young adults who report regular e-cigarette use exhibited evidence of abnormal cardiopulmonary responses to exercise and blunted Dlco recruitment. These findings suggest early cardiopulmonary impairment and pulmonary vascular dysfunction in young adults with chronic e-cigarette exposure.