E-cigarettes do not appear to affect the risk of contracting COVID-19, according to a new study from the UK. However, the pandemic has changed the habits of those who vejpar.
Researchers at the UK College of London wanted to find out how the COVID-19 pandemic affected e-cigarette users in the UK. 2800 people were included in a statistical study, a quarter of whom were current or former vejp users. Non-smokers, smokers and people using nicotine replacement therapy were also included in the data, which was collected during the country's first major lockdown in spring 2020.
COVID-19 and e-cigarettes
The preliminary results show that there was no difference between non-smokers, vejp users or those using nicotine replacement therapy in terms of reported symptoms for COVID-19. However, the rate was significantly higher among smokers.
"Current smokers had higher odds of having symptoms of COVID-19. This was also true for those who had quit smoking long ago. But we saw no difference between those using e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement therapy," the researchers write in their analysis.
No less risk with nicotine
Previous studies have indicated that smokers are underrepresented And according to a hitherto untested theory, it may be the nicotine that protects smokers from initial infection. However, the current study did not show such a link.
"Apart from smoking itself, we couldn't see any difference that suggested nicotine was a factor. But the study is based on self-reporting, not diagnoses. It may be that smokers experience other symptoms, similar to COVID-19, more often than non-smokers," the researchers write.
The researchers also noted that hand hygiene was good in all groups surveyed, whether they used nicotine or not. Around 85% reported washing their hands thoroughly when they got home and before meals. However, the biggest difference was between non-smokers and those who had recently quit smoking, with non-smokers being better at washing.
Weighed more during the pandemic
Another observation made by the researchers was that current vejp users and ex-vejp users changed their vejp habits due to the pandemic. Half of e-cigarette users reported vejping as usual during the period, while as many as 40% reported vejping more than before. About half of the ex-vejps in the study also reported that they had started vejping again.
"Common causes were increased feelings of stress and withdrawal. Not necessarily linked to the pandemic" writes News Medical magazine in an article about the study.
E-cigarettes do not increase risks
The researchers behind the report conclude that the pandemic has not significantly increased British people's attempts to quit smoking. However, one in ten e-cigarette users had quit vejpa, due to fear of Covid-19.
"One reason for the fear may be media reports that e-cigarettes increase the risk of Covid-19. But there is currently no scientific evidence that this is the case," the researchers write
Most popular stop-smoking method
While e-cigarettes do pose some health risks, UK authorities, medical communities and health organizations estimate the risks as significantly lower than for cigarettes. Weighing is currently the most popular method for quitting smoking in the UK.
The study at the College of London was funded by Cancer Research UK (British Cancer Society)
