Among adolescents, both with and without asthma, those who vape or smoke nicotine or cannabis are more likely to experience respiratory symptoms than those who do not. These were among study findings presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference, held May 18 to 21, in San Francisco, California.
Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study in late 2022 to assess the use of inhaled substances (vapes, nicotine, and cannabis) and associated respiratory symptoms in adolescents with and without asthma.
The researchers surveyed 3453 adolescents from Southern California, asking them about their use of inhaled substances (ie, vape, nicotine, or cannabis use) over the past 30 days, the past 6 months, and their total lifetime. Participants were also asked to self-report any asthma diagnosis and respiratory symptoms (eg, current cough) they had experienced. Odds ratios (ORs) for the association of asthma diagnosis and/or respiratory symptoms with vaping or smoking were adjusted for socioeconomic demographics.
Overall, 18.2% of participants reported asthma diagnoses. Participants with asthma diagnoses vs those without were more likely to report respiratory symptoms (61.5% vs 26.2%; OR, 4.49; 95% CI, 3.75-5.38).
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[W]hen respiratory symptoms were reported it was more likely there had been vaping and smoking of nicotine or cannabis behavior.
Adolescents who reported respiratory symptoms (with or without asthma diagnosis) mostly had higher odds of reporting past 30-day, past 6-month, and lifetime vaping compared with adolescents without respiratory symptoms and no asthma diagnosis (ORs, 1.32-2.43; all P <.05). The notable exception related to cannabis vaping in the past 6 months (P =.11).
Among those with no respiratory symptoms, having asthma (vs not having asthma) was not associated with increased odds of any vaping or smoking behavior.
The investigators concluded, “In this adolescent cohort, when respiratory symptoms were reported it was more likely there had been vaping and smoking of nicotine or cannabis behavior in the last 30 days, 6 months, and ever (lifetime) use.”
