Young people who vape ‘three times more likely to go on to smoke’
It is also linked to other harms such as asthma and mental health problems according to a new study
Children who vape are more likely to go on to be smokers, according to a new report, which also suggests they're more likely to be diagnosed with asthma and have poor mental health.
The largest global review on vaping in young people found "consistent evidence" that children who vape are three times more likely to go on to become smokers.
The study also pointed to links between vaping and increased odds of respiratory illness and substance abuse including drinking and marijuana use.
A study of vaping studies
Experts from the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) analysed all available reviews on youth vaping - also known as an umbrella review.
This including 56 reviews on 384 studies.
Some 21 of these looked at use of e-cigarettes among young people and later cigarette smoking.
Not only were vapers more likely to smoke in later life, they were also more likely to smoke more frequently and intensely, experts said.
Researchers also tracked breathing problems linked to youth vaping.
Vaping leads to asthma among other harmful outcomes
The data suggested an increased risk among young people who vape of developing asthma or asthma exacerbation.
Other harmful outcomes linked to youth vaping included pneumonia, bronchitis, lower total sperm counts, dizziness, headaches and migraines.
There was also a link identified between depression and suicidal thoughts among young vapers.
Assiciation between e-cigarettes and cigarette smoking later in life
Writing in the journal Tobacco Control, the authors said the data available "consistently indicated a significant association between e-cigarette use and later cigarette smoking in young people".
They said that it is difficult to "infer causality" from their review, but said the "repeated strong associations in prospective cohort studies are consistent with a causal relationship".
Dr Su Golder, associate professor in health science at the University of York, said: "The consistency in the evidence is striking.
"Across multiple studies, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke in the future. These findings support stronger public health measures to protect teens from the risks associated with vaping."