How does electronic cigarette smoking affect sinonasal symptoms and nasal mucociliary clearance?

OBJECTIVE: is to evaluate the sinonasal symptom scores and mucociliary clearance (MCC) after starting to use electronic cigarette METHODOLGY: This prospective randomized single-blind clinical trial was conducted between March 2013 and November 2013. Patients (n=98) admitted to smoking cessation clinic were divided into two groups; Electronic cigarette smokers (group 1) and non-electronic cigarette smokers (group 2). SNOT-22 and saccharin transit time for MCC were evaluated before starting electronic cigarettes and after the third months.

RESULTS: SNOT-22 scores and MCC time were evaluated between groups and within groups after 3 months. SNOT 22 scores and MCC measurements showed no difference between groups before the cessation of cigarette smoking (p >0.05). SNOT 22 results of both groups revealed statistically significantly lower scores after the three months (p < 0.05). However, SNOT-22 scores of group 2 was significantly better than group 1 (p > 0.05). Comparison of MCC results of group 2 revealed statistically significantly lower scores after the three months (p < 0.05). However, group 1 did not show any significant difference after three months (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference between the groups at the third month measurements (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Although EC is widely used as a method of quitting smoking, it has negative effects on the sinonasal symptoms and MCC.