Volunteers are being invited to take part in a new study investigating the long-term effects of vaping on the heart and blood vessels.

The study is a collaboration between Bangor University, Sheffield Hallam University and Leeds Beckett University and funded by Heart Research UK. The researchers are looking to recruit three groups of volunteers, across Bangor and the North Wales area: those who currently vape but have never smoked; those who currently both vape and smoke; and ex-smokers who do not vape.   

Vaping participants must have been doing so for at least one year – and should not have any pre-diagnosed health conditions such as cardiovascular disease.  

National studies have shown that around 7% of adults in England were vaping in 2021. However, vaping is becoming very popular among younger people. In 2023, 20.5% of UK children aged 11 – 17 have tried vaping and 7.6% are vaping regularly.   

Dr Aamer Sandoo, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science who specialises in Cardiovascular Physiology and is the Principal Investigator for Bangor University on the study, said: “This is an incredibly important research study as many believe vaping to be a safe alternative to smoking.  So far, studies have followed vapers over a short period and have shown vaping to have fewer health risks than smoking, but the longer-term effects are unclear”.

The research team will investigate and measure four main areas with the participants over the course of two years: vascular health – how the arteries respond to increases in blood flow; the classical risk factors for heart disease – including blood pressure; blood tests to look for markers of inflammation and impairments in vascular function; and a lung function test.   

Professor Markos Klonizakis, Professor of Vascular and Clinical Physiology at Sheffield Hallam University and Chief Investigator on the study, said: “The tests are all non-invasive. One of the key things we will measure is blood vessel function using an ultrasound scanner. Vascular function is the first thing to be affected in the process of someone developing cardiovascular disease. We will look at this in combination with classical risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and blood tests every six months, over a period of two years to see how vaping may affect these.”  

Dr Sandoo added: “The present study will increase knowledge about vaping for scientists, healthcare practitioners and vapers with the overall goal in optimising policy and healthcare strategies to improve long-term cardiovascular health”.

Helen Wilson, Director of Research at Heart Research UK, said: “We know that stopping smoking is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. E-cigarettes have become a very popular choice for people wanting to give up smoking but until now, little was known about their effects on the heart and blood vessels. We’re looking forward to seeing the results of the study and how that could potentially influence future guidelines on vaping.”  

Participants in the study will attend Bangor University every six months for a total of five times over the course of two years, with each visit taking approximately one hour.  

If you are interested in taking part, please contact Dr Aamer Sandoo via email: a.sandoo@bangor.ac.uk or telephone: 01248 383486. The study eligibility questionnaire can be completed here: https://shusls.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2c6z01USaWXL5wa