Riccardo Polosa

, University of Catania, Italy

Title : Impact of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products on saccharin test transit time: Evidence for harm reversal

Abstract

Tobacco smoking impairs Muco-Ciliary Clearance (MCC) efficiency as shown by prolonged Saccharin Test Transit Time (STTT). Avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke from combustible cigarettes may restore MCC function and former smokers have been shown to exhibit similar STTT as never smokers. The impact of switching from smoking to combustion-free tobacco products such as E-Cigarettes (ECs) and Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) on STTT is not known. We report STTT of exclusive EC and HTP users. Test results were compared to those obtained in current, former, and never smokers. STTT were obtained from 39 current, 40 former, 40 never smokers and from 20 EC and 20 HTP users. Comparison of STTT values showed significant difference among the five study groups (p< 0.00001) with current smokers having a median (IQR) STTT of 13.15 min, which was significantly longer compared to that of all other study groups. In particular, compared to former (7.26 min) and never smokers (7.24 min), exclusive EC users and exclusive HTP users had similar STTT at 7.00 and 8.00 min respectively. Ex-smokers who have switched to exclusive regular use of combustion-free nicotine delivery systems (i.e., ECs and HTPs) exhibit similar saccharin transit time as never and former smokers. This suggests that combustion-free nicotine delivery technologies are unlikely to have detrimental effects on MCC function.

Biography

Riccardo Polosa is an Italian respiratory physician, clinical immunologist, allergist and rheumatologist. He is the director of the Institute of Internal and Emergency Medicine at University of Catania, Italy. Over the last 10 years, his extensive contribution to tobacco-related diseases, smoking prevention and cessation, tobacco harm reduction and e-vapour products led to a scientific and evidence-based enquiry into the role of alternative Reduced Risk Products (RRPs), such as the electronic cigarettes in tobacco control and prevention. In 2018, he founded the centre of excellence for the acceleration of harm reduction (CoEHAR), a unique multi-disciplinary research centre with a mission to reduce health impacts and deaths from smoking, locally and globally. He has over 400 publications that have been cited over 10,000 times, and his publication h-index is 52. He has been serving as an editorial board member of several reputed journals.

4th International Conference on Otorhinolaryngology

Riccardo Polosa

Title : Impact of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products on saccharin test transit time: Evidence for harm reversal

Abstract

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