CoEHAR Introduces New Protocol

CoEHAR states that “electronic nicotine delivery systems have now become a well-established choice for many smokers and vapers. These devices, according to a growing body of studies and research, result in lower exposure to toxins and harmful components compared to cigarette smoke.

“However, at the same time, users’ preferences lean toward different types and patterns of consumption. Some people who use ENDS also smoke cigarettes (dual use). Other people who formerly smoked cigarettes are completely substituting ENDS (exclusive use). A small number of people who have never smoked cigarettes are using ENDS (naïve use of nicotine).”

Researchers based out of the CoEHAR centre have questioned whether these usage patterns could have different effects, or no effects at all, on the respiratory health of users. 

To verify data, the research team conducted a systematic review of studies published after 2019, searching across 4 databases and 3 gray literature sources.

CoEHAR says that the aim of the review “Patterns of Use of e-Cigarettes and Their Respiratory Effects: Protocol for an Umbrella Review”, for which the protocol has just been published, is to provide clinicians with a detailed analysis of how different patterns of ENDS use impact respiratory functioning and to point to the best sources of evidence.

The researchers, Giusy Rita Maria La Rosa, Riccardo Polosa and Renee O’Leary, will publish their findings in December 2024 and will document biases in 3 areas: protocol deviations, biases from the Oxford Catalogue of Bias, and internal data discrepancies.

CoEHAR is a “unique multidisciplinary centre” or research institute based in Catania, Italy. The centre focusses on the study of tobacco harm reduction and has grown impressively over the last few years. “Innovation, peer-review research, and globalization of ideas are at the core of CoEHAR actions”, it states. The centre was founded by Riccardo Polosa, a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Catania and producer of many studies looking at vaping over the years. He is a member of the Scientific Committee of LIAF (Italian Anti-Smoking League) and of INNCO (International Nicotine Consumer Organisation). 

References:

• CoEHAR - https://www.coehar.org/

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV

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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.