Vaping is not a risk factor for the development of long Covid, a major new study has found.
The Covid-19 pandemic caused many sufferers to experience long-lasting symptoms including fatigue, breathlessness and cognitive issues.
Both smoking and vaping have previously been associated with a higher risk of post-acute Covid-19 syndrome (PCS) – more commonly known as ‘long Covid.’
However, a new scientific report published in the journal Nature has revealed that vaping is in fact not a risk factor for PCS (which is defined as having Covid-19 symptoms for more than three months).
The study says:
“This cross-sectional study of a nationally representative population of U.S. adults found no independent association between current or former e-cigarette use and PCS.”
Smokers more likely to experience long Covid
Meanwhile it found that smokers were 21 per cent more likely to experience symptoms of PCS than those who had never smoked.
Other factors that put participants at higher risk of PCS included being female, white, overweight, having depression or anxiety, and being diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – usually caused by smoking).
The study analysed data from 107,249 adults across the U.S who had tested positive for Covid-19 in 2022, of which 23,335 (21.72 per cent) said they had experienced PCS.
It concluded: “The results showed that female gender, obesity, current smoking, and a history of depression, asthma, and COPD were significantly associated with higher odds of PCS.
“Nevertheless, e-cigarette use was not related significantly to increased odds for PCS… In conclusion our findings did not reveal an independent or indirect association between PCS with e-cigarette use.”
The researchers said previous studies that had linked vaping to PCS may have failed to properly account for the other variables.
It said: “Our study is the first to refute any independent association between e-cigarette use and PCS in a large population of 107,249 participants.
“Interestingly, e-cigarette use was significantly associated with PCS before adjustment, yet this association dissipated after adjustment. This may be due to e-cigarette users either being former smokers or dual users, having a history of COPD or having a history of asthma.”
Switching to vaping from smoking could reduce risk
The study concluded that its findings suggest switching to vaping from smoking could decrease the risk of ongoing Covid-19 symptoms. However, previous smokers were found to be at higher risk than those who had never smoked.
It said the findings “highlight the more detrimental effects tobacco smoking and other risk factors have in comparison to e-cigarettes.”
“Given that cigarettes are an established risk factor for PCS, switching to e-cigarettes may be a viable option to reduce susceptibility to PCS, although former smoking was still associated with PCS in our study,” it added.
“The reduced inflammatory response caused by e-cigarette smoke compared to cigarette smoke in preclinical studies supports the less detrimental effect of e-cigarettes compared to cigarette smoking.”
