The use of e-cigarettes during pregnancy may be linked to newborns with low birth weight, decreased breastfeeding, neuromotor development disorders, lower-than-ideal head circumference and more chances of babies being hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). This is what a study published at the end of July in the journal Research, Society and Development, conducted by the professor of Medicine at Unaerp Guarujá, Prof. Dr. José Cláudio Garcia Lira Neto, and two other researchers demonstrates.

The study “Use of electronic cigarettes in pregnancy risks analysis: an integrative review”, was developed by the doctor Carlos Eduardo Passos Pereira, by the PhD professor in Nursing in Health Promotion and professor at Unaerp Guarujá, José Claudio Garcia Lira Neto, and by the psychologist and health educator, Doctor in Collective Health, Breno de Oliveira Ferreira.

Banned from commercialization in Brazil since 2009 by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), electronic cigarettes, also known as vape or e-cigarettes, are devices that heat a liquid (usually with nicotine) that turns into vapor that is inhaled by the user. The habit of vaping (using e-cigarettes) has become increasingly popular among teenagers and young adults, including pregnant women.

In the published article, the three researchers investigated recent studies from important databases - with a total of 452 scientific texts being analyzed - until they reached a sample with five studies on the topic, one in the United Kingdom, two in Ireland and another two in the United States.

From the analyses, it was possible to have as a result that the main risks identified by active exposure to electronic cigarettes during the gestational period stand out for newborns. According to the article, “the authors reinforce that pregnant women were exposed to the carcinogenic substance 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) at higher levels for smokers of traditional cigarettes, also warning about the side effects and long-term risks of vaping. "It is possible to say that the damage exists and needs to be identified early, for better guidance and clinical management", explains Professor José Cláudio Garcia Lira Neto. 

Check out more details in the interview with Prof Dr José Cláudio Garcia Lira Neto:

How did the study proposal come about?

The proposal emerged from discussions among colleagues, who have different backgrounds, and who, like me, were also concerned about the health of pregnant women who use electronic cigarettes. In my practical experience, I have noticed that some patients - especially teenagers - are switching from traditional cigarettes to electronic cigarettes with the argument of being healthier. Therefore, after some informal conversations, we decided to better understand the subject, since there is still a large gap in knowledge on the subject.

What do these results bring as a warning to pregnant women? What might these risks pose to babies' long-term health and development?

Undoubtedly, they are a great alert for pregnant women, future mothers and health professionals. Replacing traditional cigarettes with electronic cigarettes (or vape) brings numerous harms - some highlighted in the study, such as risk of miscarriage, premature birth, respiratory changes or decreased head circumference - which can lead to neuropsychomotor impairment. It is still too early to state the long-term commitments, as we have been visualizing the habit of using these cigarettes for just over a decade. However, it is possible to say that the damage exists and needs to be identified early, for better guidance and clinical management.

What are the contributions of this analysis?

For pregnant women, this is a reminder of the need to quit smoking. For the general population, a warning about the unnecessary risks that this addiction can cause – including for young adults (the population that uses these cigarettes the most). For health professionals, this study makes an important contribution to the evidence on vape and the urgency for practical interventions in the short, medium and long term. The damages exist, they are described and they need to be taken into account so that we can prevent diseases and their respective injuries.

The scientific study can be read in full at the link: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/32797/27681 

 
During pregnancy, both traditional and electronic cigarettes (or vape) bring numerous harm to the baby formation