What Factors Reliably Predict Electronic Cigarette Nicotine Delivery?
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
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MD, Pearson J, Cobb CO, et al
What Factors Reliably
Predict Electronic Cigarette Nicotine Delivery?
Tobacco Control 2020;29:644-651.
Background The
ability of an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) to deliver nicotine
effectively may be dependent on features of the device, the liquid and the
user. Some of these features have been examined in previous work (eg, liquid
nicotine concentration and puff topography), while others have not (eg,
nicotine dependence and demographic characteristics). The purpose of this
secondary analysis is to examine such features as predictors of e-cigarette
nicotine delivery using a relatively large sample.
Methods Four
studies were combined in which e-cigarette-experienced users (n=63; 89% men;
75% white) and e-cigarette-naïve cigarette smokers (n=67; 66% men; 54% white)
took 10 puffs from an eGo-style e-cigarette (~7.3 watts) filled with liquid that
had a nicotine concentration of 18, 25 or 36 mg/mL. Thus, held constant across
all studies were device features of battery/cartomiser style and power level
and the topography parameters of puff number and interpuff interval. Blood was
sampled before and after use, and puff topography was measured. Three general
linear models were conducted to predict plasma nicotine concentrations
(pre–post increase) for: (1) e-cigarette users only, (2) smokers only and (3)
both groups combined. Predictor variables included puff duration, puff volume,
liquid nicotine concentration, presession plasma nicotine concentration,
nicotine dependence score (smokers only), gender and race.
Results
In all models tested, longer puff durations and higher liquid nicotine
concentrations were associated significantly with increased nicotine delivery
(ps<0.05). For e-cigarette users only, higher presession nicotine
concentration was associated significantly with increased nicotine delivery
(p<0.05).
Conclusions
Puff duration and liquid nicotine concentration may be among the more important
factors to consider as regulators attempt to balance e-cigarette safety with
efficacy. These findings should be interpreted in the context of devices with
relatively low power output, a variable not studied here but likely also
directly relevant to product regulation.
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