PMID- 30197510 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20190123 LR - 20190123 IS - 1178-2005 (Electronic) IS - 1176-9106 (Print) IS - 1176-9106 (Linking) VI - 13 DP - 2018 TI - Health effects in COPD smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes: a retrospective-prospective 3-year follow-up. PG - 2533-2542 LID - 10.2147/COPD.S161138 [doi] AB - BACKGROUND: Health effects of electronic cigarette (EC) use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are largely unexplored. AIM: We present findings from a long-term prospective assessment of respiratory parameters in a cohort of COPD patients who ceased or substantially reduced conventional cigarette use with ECs. METHODS: We prospectively re-evaluated COPD exacerbations, spirometric indices, subjective assessments (using the COPD Assessment Tool [CAT] scores), physical activity (measured by the 6-minute walk distance [6MWD]), and conventional cigarette use in EC users with COPD who were retrospectively assessed previously. Baseline measurements prior to switching to EC use were compared to follow-up visits at 12, 24, and 36 months. Age- and sex-matched regularly smoking COPD patients who were not using ECs were included as reference (control) group. RESULTS: Complete data were available from 44 patients. Compared to baseline in the EC-user group, there was a marked decline in the use of conventional cigarettes. Although there was no change in lung function, significant improvements in COPD exacerbation rates, CAT scores, and 6MWD were observed consistently in the EC user group over the 3-year period (p<0.01). Similar findings were noted in COPD EC users who also smoked conventional cigarettes ("dual users"). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that EC use may ameliorate objective and subjective COPD outcomes and that the benefits gained may persist long-term. EC use may reverse some of the harm resulting from tobacco smoking in COPD patients. FAU - Polosa, Riccardo AU - Polosa R AD - Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. AD - Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Tobacco Addiction (CPCT), Teaching Hospital "Policlinico - V. Emanuele", University of Catania, Catania, Italy. AD - Institute of Internal and Emergency Medicine, Teaching Hospital "Policlinico - V. emanuele", University of Catania, Catania, Italy. FAU - Morjaria, Jaymin Bhagwanji AU - Morjaria JB AD - Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital Foundation Trust, Harefield Hospital, Harefield, UK, j.morjaria@rbht.nhs.uk. AD - Imperial College, Harefield, UK, j.morjaria@rbht.nhs.uk. FAU - Prosperini, Umberto AU - Prosperini U AD - Hospital "San Vincenzo", Taormina, Italy. FAU - Russo, Cristina AU - Russo C AD - Emergency Department, Hospital "Arnas Garibaldi", Catania, Italy. FAU - Pennisi, Alfio AU - Pennisi A AD - Department of Respiratory Medicine, Private clinics "Musumeci-Gecas", Catania, Italy. FAU - Puleo, Rosario AU - Puleo R AD - Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. AD - Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Tobacco Addiction (CPCT), Teaching Hospital "Policlinico - V. Emanuele", University of Catania, Catania, Italy. AD - Institute of Internal and Emergency Medicine, Teaching Hospital "Policlinico - V. emanuele", University of Catania, Catania, Italy. FAU - Caruso, Massimo AU - Caruso M AD - Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. AD - Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Tobacco Addiction (CPCT), Teaching Hospital "Policlinico - V. Emanuele", University of Catania, Catania, Italy. FAU - Caponnetto, Pasquale AU - Caponnetto P AD - Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. AD - Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Tobacco Addiction (CPCT), Teaching Hospital "Policlinico - V. Emanuele", University of Catania, Catania, Italy. LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20180822 PL - New Zealand TA - Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis JT - International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease JID - 101273481 SB - IM MH - Aged MH - Case-Control Studies MH - Disease Progression MH - *Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems MH - Exercise MH - Female MH - Follow-Up Studies MH - Humans MH - Male MH - Prospective Studies MH - Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications/*physiopathology MH - Retrospective Studies MH - *Smokers MH - Smoking Cessation MH - Spirometry/instrumentation MH - Time Factors MH - Walk Test PMC - PMC6113943 OTO - NOTNLM OT - COPD OT - electronic cigarette OT - smoking cessation OT - tobacco harm reduction COIS- Disclosure In relation to RP's work in the area of tobacco control and respiratory diseases, he has received lecture fees and research funding from Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, CV Therapeutics, NeuroSearch A/S, Sandoz, MSD, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Duska Therapeutics, and Forest Laboratories. He has also served as a consultant for Pfizer, Global Health Alliance for Treatment of Tobacco Dependence, CV Therapeutics, NeuroSearch A/S, Boehringer Ingelheim, Duska Therapeutics, Forest Laboratories, ECITA (Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association, in the UK), and Health Diplomat (consulting company that delivers solutions to global health problems with special emphasis on harm minimization). Lecture fees from a number of European EC industry and trade associations (including FIVAPE in France and FIESEL in Italy) were directly donated to vaper advocacy no-profit organizations on the behalf of RP. RP is also currently a scientific advisor for LIAF, Lega Italiana Anti Fumo (Italian acronym for Italian Anti-Smoking League) and Head of the European Technical Committee for Standardization on "Requirements and test methods for emissions of electronic cigarettes" (CEN/TC 437; WG4). JBM has received honoraria for speaking and financial support to attend meetings/advisory boards from Wyeth, Chiesi, Pfizer, MSD, Boehringer Ingelheim, Teva, GSK/Allen & Hanburys, Napp, Almirall, AstraZeneca, Trudell and Novartis. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work. EDAT- 2018/09/11 06:00 MHDA- 2019/01/24 06:00 PMCR- 2018/08/22 CRDT- 2018/09/11 06:00 PHST- 2018/09/11 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2018/09/11 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2019/01/24 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2018/08/22 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - copd-13-2533 [pii] AID - 10.2147/COPD.S161138 [doi] PST - epublish SO - Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018 Aug 22;13:2533-2542. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S161138. eCollection 2018.