Vaping isn’t safer than smoking: ICMR study links e-cigarettes to higher heart attack risk

A comprehensive review by the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR) analyzed data from 12 global studies involving over 1.2 million participants and found a significantly elevated risk of heart attacks among e-cigarette users – up to 53% higher than non-users. Even those who switched from traditional cigarettes to vaping experienced more than double the risk of heart attack compared to those who quit all tobacco and nicotine products. This challenges the common perception that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking, as e-cigarettes still deliver nicotine and other harmful substances affecting cardiovascular health.

The study found e-cigarette users had 1.53 times higher odds of a heart attack and 1.24 times higher likelihood even after adjusting for conventional cigarette use. Former smokers who switched to e-cigarettes faced a 2.52 times higher risk of heart attack. Despite a ban on e-cigarettes in India since 2019, their use persists, particularly among adolescents, due to accessibility through black markets and marketing strategies.

The ICMR review and other recent studies emphasize the need for continuous enforcement of the ban, increased public awareness regarding the harms of vaping, and further research to understand the long-term effects, especially on young people. Experts stress that vaping is not a harm-reduction tool and poses serious risks to both cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

(Source：theweek.in)