Researchers Tell Public that Vaping Causes COPD as Scientific Rigor in Tobacco Control Drops to an All-Time Low

Based on the results of a cross-sectionalstudy showing an association between using e-cigarettes and reporting that one has ever been told they have COPD (chronic obstructive lung disease), a number of researchers have essentially concluded that vaping causes COPD, and one researcher is telling the public that use of e-cigarettes increases one ' s risk of COPDjust like cigarettes.The paper, published inDrug and Alcohol Dependence, reports the results of a cross-sectional study based on the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey in Hawaii. The outcome variable was reporting ever having been told that one has COPD. The main predictor variable was ever having used an e-cigarette. The key finding of the study was that: " there was a significant association of e-cigarette use with COPD among nonsmokers (AOR = 2.98, CI 1.51 –5.88,p <   .01), but the association was not significant among smokers (AOR = 1.29, CI 0.94–1.77, ns.). "The paper concludes that: " The fact that findings for respiratory symptoms occurred primarily for nonsmokers argues against several alternative interpretations of the results. " In other words, the paper is essentially arguing that this is most likely a causal effect (i.e., vaping causes COPD).The Rest of the StoryThere is absolutely no way one can conclude, or even speculate, based on the results of this cross-sectional study, that vaping is a cause of chronic obstructive lung disease. Remember, we are talking here about ...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs