Impairment to lungs, heart linked to vaping: U of A study

Researchers at the University of Alberta say there's evidence nicotine vapes are damaging the heart and lungs of young people who have never smoked.

A University of Alberta study has found a link between vaping and impairment to lungs and heart function among young adults.

Michael Stickland, professor of pulmonary medicine at the U of A, is leading the study that looks at people in their early 20s who have been using e-cigarettes or vapes for about three years.

“What we saw was these early indications of impaired lung function and potentially exercise intolerance as well, which suggests that their lungs and hearts are not working as well as you’d expect them to,” explained Stickland.

Participants in the study reported no cigarette or marijuana use and went through a traditional lung function test.

Many of the participants showed normal lung function, but they had greater breathlessness during exercise.

“Twenty-three-year-olds really shouldn’t be breathless. In this case, they did an exercise intensity that was about equivalent to a moderate walk,” said Stickland. “Despite walking at a moderate pace, what you saw was an increased dyspnea in these people.”

While vaping was introduced as a harm reduction tool for smoking cigarettes, it’s become more popular among young people, said Stickland.

A 2022 report from Statistics Canada found that about 14 per cent of Canadians who vape regularly are between the ages of 15 and 19. About 20 per cent are aged 20 to 24.

“That’s concerning because the lungs themselves don’t fully mature till about 25 years of age, and we know that early life exposure to toxins can actually impair lung growth and predispose people for future lung disease,” said Stickland.

The U of A will be doing a large study in collaboration with the University of British Columbia, tracking electronic cigarette use and lung function over three years.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Brandon Lynch