Vaping-related lung disease: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of vaping devices, or e-cigarettes, has increased substantially over the past two decades, particularly amongst children and young adults. Although these devices have been promoted as aids to smoking cessation, there is growing recognition that vaping may be associated with a range of adverse pulmonary and extra-pulmonary effects. Importantly, the long-term consequences of vaping on lung health remain poorly understood. In this review, we summarise current evidence regarding the pathophysiological effects and major clinical manifestations of vaping on the lungs. Additionally, we provide an overview of vaping epidemiology and the various products in use.

METHODS: We conducted a search of PubMed from inception to 30th January 2026. Keywords included 'Vaping' OR 'e-cigarette' AND 'lung injury', with additional free-text terms including 'EVALI', 'pneumothorax', 'pneumonia', 'lung function', 'airways', 'pathophysiology', 'mechanism', 'health impacts', 'epidemiology'. Inclusion criteria focused on studies written in English in peer-reviewed journals, though relevant public policy resources and website searches (e.g. Office for National Statistics) were also included.

KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS: Vaping behaviour has steadily increased over the past decade and has now overtaken conventional cigarette smoking in the United Kingdom. Importantly, a significant proportion of users are children and young adults, many of whom have never previously smoked. The acute impacts of vaping were initially characterised by the emergence of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), linked to vitamin E acetate (VEA) exposure. However, various manifestations of vaping-related lung disease have been reported, including pneumothorax, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and bronchiolitis obliterans. Chronic respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, dyspnoea, and wheeze) are common, though the long-term impact of vaping on lung function and the development of chronic lung disease remains uncertain.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a spectrum of lung disease associated with vaping, extending beyond EVALI alone. As knowledge of the pathophysiological effects and clinical manifestations continues to grow, it is imperative that these devices are no longer viewed as 'safe'. Research into the long-term impacts of vaping is crucial to guide legislative policies, and to support evidence-based discussions with individuals regarding ongoing use of these devices.