Comparing Adult Smokers Who Switched to JUUL versus Continuing Smokers: Biomarkers of Exposure and of Potential Harm and Respiratory Symptoms. 2024

Saul Shiffman, and Douglas R Oliveri, and Nicholas I Goldenson, and Qiwei Liang, and Ryan A Black, and Snigdha Mishra
PinneyAssociates, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

OBJECTIVE Real-world evidence on exposure to harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) and on biological effects in cigarette smokers who switch to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) can inform the health effects of switching. OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional, observational study assessed adults who had smoked ≥10 cigarettes/day for ≥10 years, comparing 124 continuing cigarette smokers (Smokers) to 140 former smokers who switched to JUUL-brand ENDS exclusively for ≥6 months (Switchers). Assessments included biomarkers of exposure (BOEs) to select HPHCs, biomarkers of potential harm (BOPHs) related to smoking-related diseases, psychometric assessments of dependence on cigarettes and ENDS, respectively, and respiratory symptoms. Planned analyses compared geometric means, adjusted for demographic covariates; further analyses adjusted for additional lifestyle and smoking history covariates. RESULTS Nicotine levels were significantly higher in Switchers (median time switched = 3 years), who were unusually heavy users of JUUL. All other BOEs, including NNAL and HPMA3 (primary endpoints), were significantly lower in Switchers than Smokers. Most BOPHs (sICAM-1 [primary], and eg, white blood cell count, MCP1, HbA1c) were significantly lower in Switchers than Smokers; HDL was significantly higher. Switchers reported significantly lower dependence on JUUL than Smokers did on cigarettes, and respiratory symptom scores were significantly lower among Switchers than Smokers. CONCLUSIONS Compared to continuing smokers, smokers who switched to JUUL had substantially lower exposures to multiple HPHCs, favorable differences in markers of inflammation, endothelial function, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular risk, and fewer respiratory symptoms. These findings suggest that switching from cigarettes to JUUL likely reduces smokers' health risks. CONCLUSIONS Short-term confinement studies and randomized clinical trials demonstrate that adult smokers who switch completely to ENDS experience substantial reductions in exposure to many smoking-related toxicants. This study extends those findings to longer periods of switching to JUUL-brand ENDS (almost 3 years on average) under naturalistic use conditions in real-world settings and also found that switching to JUUL resulted in favorable differences in BOPHs more proximally related to smoking-induced disease, as well as in respiratory symptoms. Smokers who switch to ENDS reduce their exposure to toxicants, likely reducing their disease risk.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009538 Nicotine Nicotine is highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke. Nicotine Bitartrate,Nicotine Tartrate
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000074285 Smokers Persons with a history or habit of SMOKING. Smokers, Non-Tobacco Products,Smokers, Tobacco,Vapers,Non-Tobacco Products Smoker,Non-Tobacco Products Smokers,Smoker,Smoker, Non-Tobacco Products,Smoker, Tobacco,Smokers, Non Tobacco Products,Tobacco Smoker,Tobacco Smokers,Vaper
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012907 Smoking Willful or deliberate act of inhaling and exhaling SMOKE from burning substances or agents held by hand. Smoking Behaviors,Smoking Habit,Behavior, Smoking,Behaviors, Smoking,Habit, Smoking,Habits, Smoking,Smoking Behavior,Smoking Habits
D015386 Hazardous Substances Elements, compounds, mixtures, or solutions that are considered severely harmful to human health and the environment. They include substances that are toxic, corrosive, flammable, or explosive. Biohazard,Hazardous Chemical,Hazardous Chemicals,Hazardous Material,Hazardous Materials,Hazardous Substance,Toxic Environmental Substance,Toxic Substances, Environmental,Biohazards,Chemicals, Hazardous,Environmental Substances, Toxic,Toxic Environmental Substances,Chemical, Hazardous,Environmental Substance, Toxic,Environmental Toxic Substances,Material, Hazardous,Materials, Hazardous,Substance, Hazardous,Substance, Toxic Environmental,Substances, Environmental Toxic,Substances, Hazardous,Substances, Toxic Environmental
D015415 Biomarkers Measurable and quantifiable biological parameters (e.g., specific enzyme concentration, specific hormone concentration, specific gene phenotype distribution in a population, presence of biological substances) which serve as indices for health- and physiology-related assessments, such as disease risk, psychiatric disorders, ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE and its effects, disease diagnosis; METABOLIC PROCESSES; SUBSTANCE ABUSE; PREGNANCY; cell line development; EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES; etc. Biochemical Markers,Biological Markers,Biomarker,Clinical Markers,Immunologic Markers,Laboratory Markers,Markers, Biochemical,Markers, Biological,Markers, Clinical,Markers, Immunologic,Markers, Laboratory,Markers, Serum,Markers, Surrogate,Markers, Viral,Serum Markers,Surrogate Markers,Viral Markers,Biochemical Marker,Biologic Marker,Biologic Markers,Clinical Marker,Immune Marker,Immune Markers,Immunologic Marker,Laboratory Marker,Marker, Biochemical,Marker, Biological,Marker, Clinical,Marker, Immunologic,Marker, Laboratory,Marker, Serum,Marker, Surrogate,Serum Marker,Surrogate End Point,Surrogate End Points,Surrogate Endpoint,Surrogate Endpoints,Surrogate Marker,Viral Marker,Biological Marker,End Point, Surrogate,End Points, Surrogate,Endpoint, Surrogate,Endpoints, Surrogate,Marker, Biologic,Marker, Immune,Marker, Viral,Markers, Biologic,Markers, Immune
D062789 Tobacco Products Substances and products derived from NICOTIANA TABACUM. Cigarettes,Cigars,Bidis,Bidis Tobacco,Cigarillos,Kreteks,Kreteks Tobacco,Pipe Tobacco,Tobacco, Bidi,Bidi,Bidi Tobacco,Bidi Tobaccos,Bidis Tobaccos,Cigar,Cigarette,Cigarillo,Kretek,Kreteks Tobaccos,Pipe Tobaccos,Product, Tobacco,Products, Tobacco,Tobacco Product,Tobacco, Bidis,Tobacco, Kreteks,Tobacco, Pipe,Tobaccos, Bidi,Tobaccos, Bidis,Tobaccos, Kreteks,Tobaccos, Pipe
D066300 Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Devices or objects designed to provide NICOTINE in the form of an inhaled aerosol. E-Cig,E-Cigarette,Electronic Cigarette,Electronic Cigarettes,Electronic Nicotine Delivery System,E-Cigarettes,E-Cigs,Cigarette, Electronic,Cigarettes, Electronic,E Cig,E Cigarette,E Cigarettes,E Cigs

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