Characterising smoking and nicotine use behaviours among women of reproductive age: a 10-year population study in England

Improving Care for People with Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Taking a Policy Lens

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) affect almost 470 million people worldwide, and this number is growing. CRDs take a significant toll on the capacity of health systems and economies, and their effect on people's lives can be devastating. Despite high rates of prevalence and mortality, CRDs are underprioritised by policymakers and governments. Tackling these conditions will require a holistic, multisectoral approach, including government-led strategies for prevention, diagnosis, management and investment in research. In this article, we provide a clear rationale for prioritising CRDs to advance population health. Proactive steps in countries of all income levels must be taken promptly to limit the growing prevalence and impact of CRDs both now and in the future.

Associations between vaping during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Despite numerous studies linking prenatal vaping to adverse perinatal outcomes, a systematic assessment for critical comparison remains absent. To investigate these associations, we conducted a systematic search of studies assessing perinatal outcomes in mothers and/or neonates exposed to vaping during pregnancy compared to those in women without prenatal vaping exposure through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PROSPERO, and Google Scholar until July 5, 2024. We performed inverse-variance random-effects meta-analyses for maternal and neonatal outcomes of 23 studies with a total of 924,376 participants with 7552 reporting vaping-only use during pregnancy. Prenatal vaping was associated with 53 % higher odds of an adverse maternal outcome (OR: 1.53; 95 % CI: 1.27-1.85; I2 = 80 %), particularly with decreased breastfeeding (OR: 0.53; 95 % CI: 0.38-0.72; I2 = 45 %) and reduced prevalence of adequate prenatal care (OR: 0.69; 95 % CI: 0.56-0.86; I2 = 82 %). Prenatal vaping was also associated with a similarly 53 % higher odds of an adverse neonatal outcome (OR: 1.53; 95 % CI: 1.34-1.76; I2 = 45 %), such as low birth weight (OR: 1.56; 95 % CI: 1.28-1.93; I2: 15 %), preterm birth (OR: 1.49; 955 CI: 1.27-1.76; I2: 0 %), and small for gestational age (OR: 1.48; 955 CI: 1.16-1.89; I2: 70 %). This is the first comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrating vaping during pregnancy as a risk factor for increased odds of both maternal and neonatal outcomes and underscores the urgency to address awareness and regulations of vaping and its potential harms to both humans and the environment. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023446266.