E-Cigarettes, Tobacco Use Have Similar Impact on Lipid Profile

Results of the Cardiovascular Injury due to Tobacco Use (CITU) study are shedding further light on the impact tobacco and e-cigarette use can have on lipid levels of patients.

The CITU study revealed e-cigarette use altered lipid profiles in a similar manner to tobacco cigarette use and that switching to e-cigarettes from tobacco may not derive any notable metabolic benefits.

The CITU study was a cross-sectional study of healthy participants between the ages of 21 and 45 years old without established cardiovascular disease(CVD) or risk factors. Investigators recruited all participants from Boston and Louisville between 2014 and 2018.

Investigators were able to identify a total cohort of 476 participants. Of these 476, 94 were nonsmokers, 45 were e-cigarette smokers, 52 used both e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes, and 285 were classified as tobacco cigarette smokers. All participants had fasting lipid and glucose levels measured as part of the study.

The mean age of nonsmokers was 28.6 years, 65% of participants were black, and 56% were female. Among e-cigarette users, the mean age was 27.8 years, 33% of participants were black, and 29% were female. The concurrent use group had a mean age of 32.6 years, 54% were black, and 47% were females. Tobacco smokers had a mean age of 32.5 years, 61% were black, and 42% were female.

Upon analyses, investigators found tobacco users had higher levels of glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, and lower HDL cholesterol compared to nonsmokers. When examining results in multivariable regression models adjusted for covariates including age, race, and sex, e-cigarette use along remained associated with elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol levels compared to nonsmokers (P<0.05). Use of both e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes with lower HDL cholesterol (P<0.01).

This study, titled “Electronic Cigarette Use is Associated With Altered Lipid Profiles in the CITU Study,” was presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2019 Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia.