Vascular Function and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adults Who Use Nicotine Vapes
Authors' conclusion
Regular daily nicotine vape use in young adults who have never smoked combustible tobacco was associated with lower vascular function and cardiorespiratory fitness. These findings highlight the need for longitudinal studies to determine long-term clinical implications.
Study context
- Population
- Young adults without known cardiovascular disease or major risk factorsexclusively used nicotine vapes 17 · used combustible cigarettes 19 · tobacco and nicotine vape naive 22
- Participants
- Fifty-eight young adults
- Exposure
- Adults who used nicotine vapes and adults who used combustible cigarettes compared with tobacco- and nicotine vape-naive individuals
- Adults who exclusively used nicotine vapesn = 17
- Adults who used combustible cigarettesn = 19
- Tobacco- and nicotine vape-naive individualsn = 22
- Outcome
- Vascular function: flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid artery reactivity (CAR)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
| Group | Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) | Carotid artery reactivity (CAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Adults who exclusively used nicotine vapes | 5.5% [3.4%] | 0.6% [5.3%] |
| Adults who used combustible cigarettes | 4.4% [2.9%] | −1.4% [5.3%] |
| Tobacco- and nicotine vape-naive individuals | 8.3% [3.4%] | 4.7% [3.2%] |
Flow-mediated dilation (FMD)
Adults who exclusively used nicotine vapes5.5% [3.4%]
Adults who used combustible cigarettes4.4% [2.9%]
Tobacco- and nicotine vape-naive individuals8.3% [3.4%]
Carotid artery reactivity (CAR)
Adults who exclusively used nicotine vapes0.6% [5.3%]
Adults who used combustible cigarettes−1.4% [5.3%]
Tobacco- and nicotine vape-naive individuals4.7% [3.2%]
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Cardiorespiratory fitness during maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (peak oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, cardiac output)
- Peak oxygen uptake was lower in adults who used nicotine vapes compared with tobacco- and nicotine vape-naive individuals but did not differ significantly between combustible cigarette and naive groups
- Minute ventilation and cardiac output were lower in both nicotine use groups
Lung function and physical activity levels
- Did not differ significantly across groups
Original publication
Vascular Function and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adults Who Use Nicotine Vapes. JAMA Cardiol. Published 21 October 2026. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it