Title : Vaping: Trend and evidence
Abstract:
The use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) has increased globally, with the highest prevalence among adolescents and young adults. E-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury (EVALI) has become a serious clinical entity, with rising figures in the US and Latin America. Its pathophysiology involves inflammatory mechanisms, oxidative stress, and toxicity associated with compounds such as vitamin E acetate and cannabis derivatives. Diagnosis is one of exclusion, supported by clinical, radiological, and microbiological criteria. Management includes the cessation of vaping, empirical antibiotics, and, in moderate to severe cases, systemic glucocorticoids. For vaping cessation, evidence supports a combination of behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy (varenicline as the first line option). Regulatory and educational strategies have proven effective in preventing initiation among youth.
Objective: To review the available evidence on the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), emphasizing the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of EVALI, as well as strategies for cessation and prevention of addiction in young people.
Conclusions: Vaping is not a safe alternative to tobacco. It is necessary to strengthen regulatory policies, community education, and clinical interventions to reduce the impact of ENDS on public health.
