Nicotine e-vaping and cardiovascular consequences: a case series and literature review

Maryam Jessri; Ahmed S Sultan; Emad Magdy; Niamh Hynes; Sherif Sultan

doi:10.1093/ehjcr/ytaa330

Nicotine e-vaping and cardiovascular consequences: a case series and literature review

Eur Heart J Case Rep. 2020 Nov 12;4(6):1-7. doi: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytaa330. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Authors

Maryam Jessri¹, Ahmed S Sultan², Emad Magdy³, Niamh Hynes⁴, Sherif Sultan^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
² University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
³ Western Vascular Institute, Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, University Hospital Galway, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
⁴ Department of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Surgery, Galway Clinic, Doughiska, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Affiliated Hospitals, Galway, Ireland.

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular toxicity as a consequence of nicotine from conventional tobacco cigarette smoking is well documented. However, little is known about the cardiovascular consequences of nicotine e-vaping. We review the literature and report a case series of three cases of major adverse cardiovascular clinical effects post nicotine e-vaping.

Case summary: Three patients with known peripheral arterial disease who switched from heavy cigarette smoking consumption to a high-intensity dose of nicotine e-vaping all developed further arterial complications within 6-30 months.

Discussion: With the recent epidemic of e-vaping in young individuals and the national outbreak of e-vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI), the dangers of e-vaping are now coming to light. The pulmonary effects are now well described, and this paper highlights three new cases of cardiovascular toxicity associated with e-vaping. The potential role of nicotine e-vaping and the risk of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) will also be discussed.

Keywords: -Vaping; Cardiovascular consequences; Case report; Case series; Electronic nicotine delivery systems; Nicotine; e; e-Cigarettes.