Vaping with electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has now contributed to 34 deaths in the U.S. as of October 22, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC attributed the deaths to the condition it has dubbed EVALI (e-cigarettes, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury). In a recent update, 29 deaths of patients were analyzed. According to the CDC's report, 59% of the deceased patients were men and their median age was 45 years. Those who died were older than the overall population of EVALI patients.
The CDC update is the first time the agency has detailed characteristics of patients with EVALI who have died. The report adds to previous data on all EVALI patient characteristics, including sex, age, and substances used in e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
Earlier this month, the CDC revised its initial recommendation for healthcare providers on how to deal with vaping-associated illness. The document summarized national surveillance data describing clinical features of more recently reported cases and provides interim recommendations based on these data.
The CDC also provided interim guidance for U.S. healthcare providers on initial clinical evaluation, suggested criteria for hospital admission and treatment, patient follow-up, special considerations for groups at high risk, and clinical and public health recommendations.
