Does Vaping Increase the Risk of COVID-19 Transmission and Make Individuals Who Vape Susceptible to Infection and Prone to Severe Illness? A Review.

Abstract

The predominant mode of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is aerosols, and e-cigarettes/vaping products are a source of aerosols. There is a public health concern that the use of these products may increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission, susceptibility to COVID-19 and severity of the disease. Based on a review of existing literature, we found emerging evidence that suggests that people who vape are at higher risk of COVID-19, and, because of compromised lung function, their susceptibility to the disease and the severity of outcomes is increased. Aerosols generated by vaping products could be involved in the transmission of the virus when people are close to others who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are vaping. These findings may be useful to health care professionals, including dental professionals, in providing evidence to support informing patients about vaping and how the use of vaping products impacts the risk of COVID-19 transmission, infection susceptibility and severity of illness.