YOUNG PEOPLE who use e-cigarettes are five times more likely to catch coronavirus, according to a new study.
The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, surveyed 4,351 people between the ages of 13 and 24 and found that their chances of contracting the virus increased fivefold.
It also found that vape-users who also smoked in the past 30 days were seven times more likely to catch the virus.
Vaping is considered an issue in relation to the pandemic because users touch their mouths and inhale more deeply, making it easier for the virus to spread.
Many experts also claim that vaping causes damage to the immune system due to the chemicals involved, which will weaken the body against illness.
The study notes however that vapers being more likely to be diagnosed with Covid-19 does not prove that vaping is the direct cause.
It's the first study to look at the link between the devices and coronavirus cases in young people using population-based data collected during the pandemic.
"[Young people] may believe their age protects them or they will not experience symptoms but the data show this isn't true among those who vape," said lead author of the research Dr Shivani Mathur Gaih.
"This study tells us pretty clearly youths using vapes or are using e-cigarettes and cigarettes are at elevated risk. And it's not just a small increase - it's a big one."
See More: Coronavirus, Study, Vaping
