Association between e-cigarette use, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: protocol for a systematic review

Introduction Despite the rise in popularity of e-cigarette smoking or ‘vaping’, its long-term health consequences are still being investigated. In particular, it is unclear what impact e-cigarette use has on aerobic performance and exercise capacity. This information has important implications both...

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Main Authors: Javad Heshmati, Hassan Mir, Hayley Thode
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-07-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e101489.full
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author Javad Heshmati
Hassan Mir
Hayley Thode
author_facet Javad Heshmati
Hassan Mir
Hayley Thode
author_sort Javad Heshmati
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Despite the rise in popularity of e-cigarette smoking or ‘vaping’, its long-term health consequences are still being investigated. In particular, it is unclear what impact e-cigarette use has on aerobic performance and exercise capacity. This information has important implications both for tobacco smokers as a harm reduction approach, and youth and young adults who are increasingly turning to e-cigarettes recreationally. Thus, this review aims to systematically evaluate the literature surrounding the effects of regular e-cigarette use on markers of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity.Methods and analysis This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. A systematic search was undertaken in October 2024, using the defined population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, study time framework to identify all relevant articles. Studies will be eligible if they include individuals who use e-cigarette products, assess regular e-cigarette use as an exposure, compare to a group of non-users and report outcomes related to measures of cardiorespiratory fitness (eg, VO2max, 6 min walk test) or physical activity (eg, sport participation, meeting weekly physical activity guidelines), regardless of study duration. Searched databases will include PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library and Embase, with no restriction to date or language of publication. Two reviewers will carry out the title and abstract screening, full text review and data extraction. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for non-randomised studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (v2) for randomised studies. Study heterogeneity will be assessed using the Q and I2 statistic tests. Efforts will be made to conduct a meta-analysis if sufficient data and homogeneity are present. Otherwise, a narrative synthesis will be conducted, focusing on common themes, subgroups and sources of variability.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required for this review of previously published or presented data. The results of the review will be disseminated via conference presentations and peer-reviewed publication. Moreover, results of this review may inform public health recommendations and identify areas in the field where further research is needed.PROSPERO registration number CRD420250589685.
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spelling doaj-art-dd1d16d1dcaf4ac2940da834f51846562025-08-20T03:35:18ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-07-0115710.1136/bmjopen-2025-101489Association between e-cigarette use, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: protocol for a systematic reviewJavad Heshmati0Hassan Mir1Hayley Thode2University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaUniversity of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaUniversity of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaIntroduction Despite the rise in popularity of e-cigarette smoking or ‘vaping’, its long-term health consequences are still being investigated. In particular, it is unclear what impact e-cigarette use has on aerobic performance and exercise capacity. This information has important implications both for tobacco smokers as a harm reduction approach, and youth and young adults who are increasingly turning to e-cigarettes recreationally. Thus, this review aims to systematically evaluate the literature surrounding the effects of regular e-cigarette use on markers of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity.Methods and analysis This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. A systematic search was undertaken in October 2024, using the defined population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, study time framework to identify all relevant articles. Studies will be eligible if they include individuals who use e-cigarette products, assess regular e-cigarette use as an exposure, compare to a group of non-users and report outcomes related to measures of cardiorespiratory fitness (eg, VO2max, 6 min walk test) or physical activity (eg, sport participation, meeting weekly physical activity guidelines), regardless of study duration. Searched databases will include PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library and Embase, with no restriction to date or language of publication. Two reviewers will carry out the title and abstract screening, full text review and data extraction. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for non-randomised studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (v2) for randomised studies. Study heterogeneity will be assessed using the Q and I2 statistic tests. Efforts will be made to conduct a meta-analysis if sufficient data and homogeneity are present. Otherwise, a narrative synthesis will be conducted, focusing on common themes, subgroups and sources of variability.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required for this review of previously published or presented data. The results of the review will be disseminated via conference presentations and peer-reviewed publication. Moreover, results of this review may inform public health recommendations and identify areas in the field where further research is needed.PROSPERO registration number CRD420250589685.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e101489.full
spellingShingle Javad Heshmati
Hassan Mir
Hayley Thode
Association between e-cigarette use, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: protocol for a systematic review
BMJ Open
title Association between e-cigarette use, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: protocol for a systematic review
title_full Association between e-cigarette use, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: protocol for a systematic review
title_fullStr Association between e-cigarette use, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: protocol for a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Association between e-cigarette use, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: protocol for a systematic review
title_short Association between e-cigarette use, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: protocol for a systematic review
title_sort association between e cigarette use physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness protocol for a systematic review
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e101489.full
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