A new research protocol is investigating the early pulmonary effects of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and waterpipes in healthy adults aged 18–24. The authors’ goal is to provide a systematic summary of the earliest respiratory changes occurring among young people.
The protocol, described in the journal BMJ Open, outlines the methodology for a comprehensive systematic review examining the use of traditional cigarettes, marijuana, waterpipes, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), as well as environmental exposure resulting from their use. The research examines observational (cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort) and experimental studies involving young adults between 18 and 24 years of age with no previously diagnosed respiratory disease, comparing participants against non-user control groups.
The search is being conducted in the MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, including publications in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and German, without temporal restrictions. Data processing is performed through dual independent assessment, and a narrative synthesis and, where possible, a random-effects meta-analysis are used to summarize respiratory and lung function outcomes, in parallel with a reliability assessment according to the GRADE method.
As the study presents only the approved research protocol, the authors have not yet reported final results or quantitative conclusions. The purpose of the study is to provide a unified exploration of the currently fragmented evidence available on early lung changes in young adults.
In Brief
- A protocol has been developed for a systematic review exploring the early pulmonary effects of smoking products and e-cigarettes.
- The study analyzes the respiratory parameters of previously healthy young adults aged 18–24 compared to non-user control groups.
- Relevant experimental and observational data from the MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases will be summarized and supplemented with a meta-analysis.
Source: PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
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