E-Cigarettes: A New Threat to Cardiovascular Health - A World Heart Federation Policy Brief

• Published in: Global heart Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 72
• Main Authors: Bianco, Eduardo, Skipalskyi, Andrii, Goma, Fastone, Odeh, Hanin, Hasegawa, Koji, Zawawi, Mawya Al, Stoklosa, Michal, Dalmau, Regina, Dorotheo, E Ulysses, Berteletti, Florence, Mwangi, Jeremiah, Wang, Yunshu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Ubiquity Press 01.01.2021
• Subjects: cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular health; cvd; e-cigarette; electronic cigarette; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; ends; Humans; policy; public health; Public Policy; regulation; risk factor; Smokers; Smoking Cessation; tobacco control; Tobacco Products; vaping; Cardiovascular Disease; Policy; Public Health; E-Cigarette; Tobacco Control; Electronic Cigarette; CVD; Cardiovascular Health; Vaping; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; ENDS; Regulation; Risk Factor
• DOI: 10.5334/gh.1076
• ISSN: 2211-8179; 2211-8160

Tobacco is widely recognized as a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, accounting for approximately seventeen percent of all cardiovascular disease deaths globally. Electronic nicotine delivery systems such as e-cigarettes have been developed and advertised as safer alternatives to traditional tobacco cigarettes. Aggressive marketing strategies, as well as misleading claims by manufacturers, have largely contributed to the belief that e-cigarettes are harmless. In reality, e-cigarettes are far from innocuous. E-cigarette solutions and aerosols generally contain harmful substances that are commonly found in tobacco cigarette emissions. A growing body of literature suggests that e-cigarettes are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In addition, the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation tools has yet to be determined. Concerningly, most smokers do not give up on tobacco cigarettes and eventually become dual users. Unregulated, e-cigarettes constitute a serious threat to established tobacco control policies. Fortunately, many countries have demonstrated that strong regulations were effective in protecting their populations from the dangers of e-cigarettes. The World Heart Federation recommends applying the precautionary principle and a set of measures to protect vulnerable populations, prevent exposure to second-hand smoking, and address misleading claims. In this regard, we recommend that governments, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders enact or support the following measures, among others: Prohibit the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes to minors, as well as the use of flavouring agents.Prohibit the use of e-cigarettes anywhere tobacco cigarettes have been banned.Prohibit marketing, advertising, and misleading claims regarding e-cigarettes.Apply excise taxes on e-cigarettes.Conduct more research regarding the long-term effects of e-cigarettes on cardiovascular health. Lastly, countries that have banned the commercialization of e-cigarettes should maintain these measures.