New nicotine products and vascular risk.

Abstract

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable diseases, disability, and death in Spain, causing 56,124 deaths annually, one-third of which are due to cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to review the relationship between the use of novel products and vascular risk and other health risks, as well as their impact on cessation and harm modification. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Tripadatabase.com, Truth Tobacco, Industry Documents, and Tobacco Tactics. There is some evidence that the harm of these products is less than the individual harm by cigarettes at vascular, cardiorespiratory, and metabolic levels. There is no evidence that replacing cigarettes with novel nicotine products reduces overall harm because: (a) they promote dual smoking in most users; (b) they increase vulnerability to relapse; (c) they delay or prevent cessation of nicotine addiction; and (d) they facilitate the transition to tobacco use in minors.