The association collects data from the largest study to date on electronic cigarettes, published in the journal ‘Nicotine & Tobacco Research’, with data from 249,190 adults, confirming that people who vape are 129% more likely to develop this condition compared to those who have never vaped or smoked.
The president of Nofumadores.org, Raquel Fernández Megina, emphasizes that «the results of this study seriously question the viability and legality of the vaping industry itself. This sector, which has established itself in our country under the false premise of helping to quit smoking or reducing its risk, is being contradicted by numerous studies that show it does not meet any of those objectives.»
COPD is usually associated with smoking, as it is a progressive and deadly condition that affects 15 to 20% of regular smokers. In fact, almost seven out of ten COPD patients are smokers.
Currently, COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, and it has no cure: its progression can only be slowed down by eliminating risk factors.
In this regard, the president of Nofumadores.org states that «the doubling of the risk of developing this devastating disease through vaping is a first-rate alarm signal for health authorities. Vaping is not a safe alternative. It’s a time bomb for lung health.»
According to the Annual Health System Report, more than one million people suffer from COPD in Spain. According to the EPISCAN II epidemiological study, the prevalence is 11.8%, although there is a 74.6% underdiagnosis. In the last 10 years, there has been a 70% increase in female COPD cases, largely due to smoking.
«The profile of our patients is getting younger — comments Nicole Hass, spokesperson for the national COPD association (APEPOC) –, we already have patients as young as 32 years old, and the trend continues if we cannot control vaping among young people.»
In addition to lung damage, the data also indicate that dual use of vapes and tobacco increases the risk of developing heart diseases by up to 118%. These conditions include heart attacks, heart failure, and sudden death, confirming that combining vapes and traditional cigarettes exacerbates rather than reduces damage.
«This study definitively debunks the lie that vaping can save lives by reducing risk,» says Raquel Fernández Megina.
Furthermore, the study suggests that individuals aged 30 to 70 who exclusively consume vapes have up to a 39% higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
According to the latest data from the ESTUDES survey, 54.6% of adolescents aged 14 to 18 in Spain have already experimented with vaping, and one in four minors aged 12 to 13 has also tried these devices.
Nofumadores.org reminds that the Real Decree 579/2017 project, which regulates key aspects of the marketing of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes such as the prohibition of flavors designed to attract young people, «remains blocked. Although the Ministry of Health has pushed for it to reduce consumption and prevent initiation among minors and non-smokers, its approval is delayed.»
They explain that in its European procedure (TRIS system), six countries have raised objections, requiring Spain to provide additional documentation and delaying its approval by at least three months in the Council of Ministers.