Vaping Linked to Increased Risk of COVID-19 in Teenagers and Young Adults

Strategic Insights -

A recent study by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that teenagers and young adults who vape are five to seven times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than their non-vaping peers. This increased risk is attributed to the damage vaping can cause to the lungs, leaving them more susceptible to chronic disease, including COVID-19. The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, used survey results from 4,351 people between the ages of 13 to 24 across the US.

Key Takeaways:

  • Teenagers and young adults who vape are five to seven times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than their non-vaping peers.
  • Regular vaping can damage the lungs, leaving them more susceptible to chronic disease, including COVID-19.
  • People who both vape and smoke cigarettes are 7 times more likely to have COVID-19.
  • The study found that survey subjects who said they had used e-cigarettes at any point in the past were five times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • The CDC report published in late July revealed that nearly 20% of young, previously healthy coronavirus patients hadn't recovered after two to three weeks of illness.
  • One in three young adults from ages 18 to 25 are vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infection due to lung damage caused by regular vaping.
  • Vaping can increase the risk of lung disease by more than 1.3 times, even without smoking tobacco.
  • People who both smoke and vape are 3.3 times more likely to develop lung disease than people who don't do either at all.
  • Experts suspect that there is a direct link between vaping, lung damage, and vulnerability to the coronavirus.

Statistics:

  • 5-7 times: The increased risk of COVID-19 among teenagers and young adults who vape.
  • 4,351: The number of people in the study.
  • 13-24: The age range of the survey participants.
  • 20%: The percentage of young, previously healthy coronavirus patients who hadn't recovered after two to three weeks of illness.
  • 1 in 3: The number of young adults from ages 18 to 25 who are vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infection.
  • 1.3 times: The increased risk of lung disease among regular vapers.
  • 2.6 times: The increased risk of lung disease among tobacco smokers.
  • 3.3 times: The increased risk of lung disease among people who both smoke and vape.

Sources:

  • "Teens and young adults need to know that if you use e-cigarettes, you are likely at immediate risk of COVID-19 because you are damaging your lungs," Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, a professor of pediatrics at Stanford and co-author of the study.
  • "We were surprised," Halpern-Felsher told NBC News. "We expected to maybe see some relationship... but certainly not at the odds ratios and the significance that we're seeing it here."
  • "This study tells us pretty clearly that youth who are using vapes or are dual-using [e-cigarettes and cigarettes] are at elevated risk, and it's not just a small increase in risk; it's a big one." Shivani Mathur Gaiha, the study's lead author.
  • ScienceDirect: "Journal of Adolescent Health" (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X20303992)
  • Business Insider: "Young Adults and Teenagers Are Five to Seven Times More Likely to Have Severe COVID-19 Cases If They Vape" (https://www.businessinsider.com/young-adults-teens-severe-coronavirus-cases-smoking-genetics-2020-7)
  • NBC News: "Teen Vapers 7 Times More Likely to Get COVID-19, Study Finds" (https://www.nbcnews.com/health/vaping/teen-vapers-7-times-more-likely-get-covid-19-non-n1236383)