Nature: E-cigarettes can cause arrhythmias

Researchers at the University of Louisville in the United States recently found that exposure to e-cigarette aerosols can cause arrhythmias in animal models, manifested as premature beats and palpitations
.
The findings, published Oct.
25 in the journal Nature Communications, show that exposure to specific chemicals in e-cigarette liquids can cause arrhythmias and interfere with the heart conduction system
.

Alex Carll, assistant professor in the Department of Physiology, who led the study, said: "Our findings suggest that short-term exposure to e-cigarettes can unstable
heart rate through specific chemicals in e-cigarette liquids.
At the same time, e-cigarettes containing certain flavor additives or solvents may disrupt the electrical conduction of the heart and cause arrhythmias
.
These effects may increase the risk of
atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest.
”

The researchers tested the effects on the heart of e-cigarette aerosols derived primarily from two solvents for e-cigarettes (nicotine-free propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin) and tobacco or mint-flavored liquids
containing nicotine.

They found that for all e-cigarette aerosols, the animals' heart rates slowed when they were first exposed to the aerosol and then accelerated as heart rate variability decreased, reflecting the stress response
when fighting or fleeing.
In addition, aerosols from mint-flavored liquids or propylene glycol can cause ventricular arrhythmias and other heart conduction disorders
.

The study, conducted in collaboration with Daniel Conklin and Professor Aruni Bhatnagar of the Department of Environmental Medicine at the University of Louisville, adds to the study on the potential toxicity and health effects of e-cigarettes reported by the American Heart
Association's Center for Tobacco Regulation and Addiction.

"The results of this study are important because they provide new evidence that e-cigarettes may interfere with normal heart rhythms — something we didn't know about before," Bhatnagar said
.
"This is very worrying
given the rapid growth in e-cigarette use, especially among young people.
"

With the rapid popularity of e-cigarettes, the potential benefits and harms of e-cigarettes have also caused debate
.
Because e-cigarettes do not involve combustion, smokers or others are rarely exposed to carbon monoxide, tar or carcinogenic nitrosamines
compared to traditional cigarettes.
However, e-cigarettes release aldehydes, particles, and nicotine comparable
to regular cigarettes.
E-cigarettes may help smokers quit regular cigarettes, but young people may become addicted and take unknown long-term risks for vaping
.

Carll said: "Our team found that specific components in e-cigarette liquids promote arrhythmias, indicating that more research
is urgently needed on the effects of these components on the hearts of animals and humans.
”

Original text search

Carll, A.
P.
, Arab, C.
, Salatini, R.
et al.
E-cigarettes and their lone constituents induce cardiac arrhythmia and conduction defects in mice.
Nat Commun 13, 6088 (2022).
https://doi.
org/10.
1038/s41467-022-33203-1