Association of Electronic Cigarette Use With Smoking Habits, Demographic Factors, and Respiratory Symptoms

Abstract

During the last 30 years, the proportion of smokers has steadily decreased in Sweden, which has contributed to a decreased prevalence of respiratory symptoms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among adults,^1,2 less exposure to environmental tobacco smoke,³ and a decrease in lung cancer mortality among men.⁴ This positive public health trend may now be threatened as the tobacco industry continues to develop and market new nicotine delivery devices, including electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Since their introduction to the market 10 years ago, e-cigarettes have rapidly become a billion-dollar industry; however, globally the content, sales, and marketing remain largely unregulated and the possible adverse health effects have yet to be established or refuted.^5-7