On November 28th, 2019, our Observatory published an article with a review on vaping-associated lung injury when concerns were first raised about the possible health effects of vaping (read HERE). Now the CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other health departments are investigating reports of a new outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). As of February 18, 2020, a total of 2,807 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths have been reported to CDC from all 50 states. The weekly report says that this outbreak shows a decline in cases after reaching its peak in September 2019. For a true evaluation of the current outbreak, we have to consider that CDC stopped collecting data on non-hospitalized cases, a different criterion to that used in the first outbreak.
CDC reports the products used and the age range incidence; lab tests for 1,782 hospitalized patients took place relating to a variety of vape products used, per CDC figures as of December 17. Based on data released on December 3, the majority of people with pulmonary illness (EVALI) are young males:
- 78% are under the age of 35, and 67% are males.
- About 80% reported using products containing THC [tetrahydrocannabinol], a psychoactive component of the marijuana plant, 35% reported exclusive use of THC-containing products and 54% also reported use of products with nicotine.
Vaping addiction update, the effects of coronavirus restrictions on vaping
A relevant issue is what a study reported about the effect of coronavirus orders, a combination of stay-at-home and vape and smoke shop closures have the results that the e-cigarette habits among young adults and underage youth during the coronavirus disease COVID-19 pandemic have found that “67.7% of e-cigarette users who changed their vaping habits during the pandemic had reduced their use or quit entirely” (read the entire study HERE).
We ask if the statement of CDC that “this outbreak shows a decline in cases in relation to the picking in September 2019” is or not good news when in these severely restricted conditions were 2,807 hospitalized and unknown cases of not hospitalized.
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