Electronic cigarette use and myocardial infarction: is there a link?

This article investigated the relationship between electronic cigarette (EC) use and myocardial infarction (MI; heart attack). The authors concluded that EC use is associated with an increased risk of having had an MI.  

People who smoke normal cigarettes are 2 to 5 times more likely to have an MI. It is believed that EC are less dangerous compared with normal cigarettes. However, EC work by delivering tiny particles of nicotine along with ultrafine particles, and these fine particles increase the risk of heart disease. It is believed that having an MI increases the risk of using EC. This is because people switch to these after an MI as they believe they are less risky than normal cigarettes. It is not fully known whether EC use is associated with an increased risk of having had an MI.

The study involved data from 58,767 patients. Group 1 had had an MI in their lifetime, group 2 had had an MI in the last 12 months. The main outcome measured was the association between EC use and having had an MI. Patient reports were used to evaluate patients' EC use.

Patients who reported everyday EC use were 2.25 times more likely to have an MI. Patients who reported some-day use were 1.99 times more likely to have an MI. Former EC smokers did not have a higher risk of having an MI. Patients who used both regular cigarettes or EC were 6.64 times more likely to have an MI compared with people who did not use either product.

The authors concluded that EC use is associated with an increased risk of having had an MI.  

It is not known whether the reported MI occurred after or before starting the EC or normal cigarettes. 

If you are concerned regarding e-cigarette use you should discuss this with your doctor.