E-cigarettes, also known as electronic nicotine delivery devices or e-cigarettes, appear to be harmful to men, according to a recent study, which claims that their usage increases the risk of erectile dysfunction.
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| Image: Man Smoking E-cigarette | InStyleHealth |
The fourth wave of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study was employed in this investigation. There were a total
of 13,711 adult men between the ages of 20 and 40 in the study. About half of
the population (53%) was a former smoker, 21% was a current smoker, and 14%
used other tobacco products. The majority of the individuals (87.8%) had never
been diagnosed with diabetes or heart disease (CVD; 85.0 percent).
Researchers examined the usage of ENDS and the risk of
erectile dysfunction in a large population and a smaller sample (men aged 20–65
with no history of cardiovascular disease).
The overall prevalence of erectile dysfunction was
20.7 percent, while the age-restricted CVD-free sample had a prevalence of 10.2
percent. In the meantime, current ENDS usage was found in 4.8 percent of the
complete sample (2.1 percent reported daily use) and 5.6 percent of the limited
sample (2.5 percent reported daily use).
In both the full (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.24, 95
percent confidence interval [CI], 1.50–3.34) and restricted (AOR, 2.41, 95
percent confidence interval [CI], 1.55–3.74) samples, multivariable regression
analysis revealed that current daily ENDS use was linked to a higher risk of
erectile dysfunction than nonuse.
CVD history (AOR, 1.39, 95 percent CI, 1.10–1.77) and
age 65 years (vs age 20–24 years; AOR, 17.4, 95 percent CI, 12.15–24.91) were
risk factors for erectile dysfunction in the overall sample, but physical
activity (AOR range, 0.440.58) was protective in both populations (AOR range,
0.440.58).
While ENDS are still being studied for their potential
to reduce harm and help people quit smoking, the findings show that users
should be aware of the risk of erectile dysfunction.
Source: Am J Prev Med 2021;10.1016/j.amepre.2021.08.004