Get highlights from a new CDC report with the most recent number of reported cases, patterns of the outbreak, patient characteristics, and more.
As of September 24, 2019:
805 reported cases of lung injury associated with e-cigarette use
50-99 cases reported in 4 states
12 deaths confirmed in 10 states
Specific chemical exposure(s) causing the outbreak currently unknown
*Vaping concentrated marijuana
Patients with lung injury associated with e-cigarette use had:
History of e-cigarette use, vaping, or dabbing within 90 days before symptom onset
Imaging studies showing lung injury
Lack of evidence of infection (confirmed cases) OR infection not thought to be sole cause of lung injury or infectious disease testing was not done (probable cases)
Absence of alternative plausible diagnoses
Among 805 cases, basic patient characteristics received for 771 patients. Among these patients:
91% were hospitalized
69% were male; 30% female
Median duration between symptom onset and hospitalization: 6 days
Median age: 23 years
~62% aged 18-34 years; ~16.2% aged <18 years
Among 514 patients who used e-cigarettes in the 30 days prior to symptom onset:
Majority (76.9%) used THC-containing products vs nicotine-containing products (56.8%)
Majority used THC-only products (36%) vs nicotine-only products (16%)
CDC Recommendations:
Continuously monitor number of cases, characteristics AND substances used with e-cigarettes
Counsel patients to refrain from using e-cigarettes, especially ones with THC
Adults who use e-cigarettes as cessation aide should NOT return to traditional, combustible cigarettes
CDC Recommendations (cont.):
Patients who use e-cigarettes should not get them from informal sources or black-market
Patients should not modify e-cigarette devices or add substances that are not intended by the manufacturer
Both THC- and nicotine-containing vapes bought legally in US also contain harmful ingredients
Lung injury associated with e-cigarette use in the US has been on the rise in recent months, with 805 reported cases and 12 deaths to date. It can be difficult, however, for physicians and patients to keep up with the increasing statistics as more people are diagnosed. That is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) newly released its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that summarizes outbreak patterns and characteristics of cases reported to the CDC. Click through the slides below to get highlights from the new report and recommendations on counseling patients who either use e-cigarettes or are suspected of having e-cigarette-related lung injury.
