A major new study will investigate how vaping affects the lungs of people who have quit smoking — with researchers hoping to shed light on how long people should continue vaping after using e-cigarettes as a quitting aid.
The research, led by experts at the University of Birmingham, will follow 200 participants over the course of a year. The study aims to better understand the safety and biological impact of vaping after smoking cessation, an area where long-term evidence remains limited.
Participants will be recruited from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust’s NHS staff smoking cessation clinic and local community stop smoking services. Half will receive nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as patches or gum, while the other half will be provided with vapes.
Comparing data
Samples taken throughout the year will assess lung function and be compared to those from 40 people who have never smoked or vaped, giving scientists a clearer picture of how vaping impacts people who used to smoke over time.
Unlike previous research, which has tended to look at lung health at a single time point, this project will track biological changes in lung and immune cells over 12 months. The team hopes their findings will help shape future smoking cessation advice and public health guidance.
Dr Aaron Scott, chief investigator of the study, said: “We will study how vaping affects important airway immune cells and the epithelial cells which line the insides of the lung. Since these cell types play a critical role in the development of smoking-related lung diseases, these changes will provide clear insight into vaping on lung health.”
Short term vs long term
Professor David Thickett, professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Birmingham and clinical lead for the study, added: “This study will provide critical data needed to understand the safety of vaping as a short-term smoking cessation strategy and the potential for harm in longer-term usage so people can make an informed personal choice about whether to quit with e-cigarettes and how long to use them after swapping to stop.”
Paula Chadwick, chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, welcomed the study:
“Stopping smoking is the single best thing you can do for your lung health and to reduce your risk of lung cancer, but we know quitting can be incredibly hard.
“For some people, vaping has proven a useful tool in giving up cigarettes, but we still need much more evidence about its long-term safety, or long-term health implications.
“This study is an important step forward in helping people make informed choices about their quit journey – and in understanding how we can best protect future generations from lung disease and lung cancer.”