Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
Pain Physician. 2024 Feb;27(2):E263-E267.
Since electronic cigarettes (E-Cigs) were introduced to the United States (US) in 2007 its use has increased. Like other tobacco products, E-Cigs too pose health risks. Studies have shown a correlation between pain and tobacco use, with the association being bidirectional. However, there is limited data on the effect of E-Cig use on chronic pain, as well as its association with opioid use.
To evaluate the use of tobacco products, including E-Cigs in a chronic pain population.
This study was designed as a cross sectional survey.
This study was set in an urban academic teaching center.
After IRB approval, surveys of established chronic pain patients were conducted over 4 months. The survey and results were anonymous, without the collection of any identifiable information. The adult patients who had been treated in the pain practice for over 3 months were included in this study. The survey collected the patients' age, gender, history of tobacco usage, cigarette smoking, E-Cig and opioid use.
A total of 312 patients were surveyed. 198 women (63.5%) and 114 men (36.5%). The average age was 58.2; ~59 years for men and ~58 years for women. Eighty-four patients (26.9%) were managing pain using chronic opioids; 46 women and 38 men. Nine women (4.5%) had tried E-Cigs in the past, but none (0%) were active users. Eighteen men (15.8%) had tried E-Cigs in the past with 9 (7.8%) being active users. Among the opioid managed patients, 6 (9.1%) had and were active users of E-Cigs and all 6 were men (20%).
The anonymous results collected through the survey may not be accurate as they cannot be validated. In addition to the small sample size, the entire study population is from an urban academic center which may not be generalizable to all chronic pain patients. Finally, the study does not evaluate the impact of tobacco or E-Cig use on pain level or functional status.
In this study of chronic pain patients, cigarette smoking and E-Cig use was similar to the reported use in the general adult population in the US. The study showed a strong correlation between tobacco use, especially cigarettes and E-Cigs, and opioid use. As the use of E-Cigs becomes more mainstream, the association between E-Cig use, chronic pain, and opioid use should be monitored.
自 2007 年电子烟（E-Cigs）引入美国（US）以来，其使用量有所增加。与其他烟草制品一样，电子烟也存在健康风险。研究表明，疼痛与烟草使用之间存在相关性，这种关联是双向的。然而，关于电子烟使用对慢性疼痛的影响以及与阿片类药物使用的关系，数据有限。
评估慢性疼痛人群中烟草制品（包括电子烟）的使用情况。
本研究设计为横断面调查。
本研究在城市学术教学中心进行。
在获得 IRB 批准后，对 4 个月内的慢性疼痛患者进行了调查。调查和结果是匿名的，没有收集任何可识别的信息。这项研究纳入了在疼痛科接受治疗超过 3 个月的成年患者。该调查收集了患者的年龄、性别、烟草使用史、吸烟、电子烟和阿片类药物使用情况。
共调查了 312 名患者。198 名女性（63.5%）和 114 名男性（36.5%）。平均年龄为 58.2 岁；男性约 59 岁，女性约 58 岁。84 名患者（26.9%）正在使用慢性阿片类药物治疗疼痛；女性 46 人，男性 38 人。9 名女性（4.5%）曾尝试过电子烟，但无人（0%）为活跃使用者。18 名男性（15.8%）曾尝试过电子烟，其中 9 人（7.8%）为活跃使用者。在使用阿片类药物的患者中，有 6 人（9.1%）为电子烟使用者，均为男性（20%）。
通过调查收集的匿名结果可能不准确，因为无法验证。除了样本量小之外，整个研究人群都来自城市学术中心，可能无法推广到所有慢性疼痛患者。最后，该研究并未评估烟草或电子烟使用对疼痛程度或功能状态的影响。
在这项对慢性疼痛患者的研究中，吸烟和电子烟的使用与美国普通成年人口中的报告使用情况相似。研究表明，烟草使用，尤其是香烟和电子烟，与阿片类药物使用之间存在很强的相关性。随着电子烟的使用越来越普及，应监测电子烟使用、慢性疼痛和阿片类药物使用之间的关联。
