Update: Demographic, Product, and Substance-Use Characteristics of Hospitalized Patients in a Nationwide Outbreak of E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use–Associated Lung Injuries — United States, December 2019

Authors: Matthew J. Lozier, Bailey Wallace, Kayla Anderson, Sascha Ellington, Christopher M. Jones, Dale Rose, Grant Baldwin, Brian A. King, Peter Briss, Christina A. Mikosz

License: CC BY 4.0 All material in the MMWR Series is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

Article links: DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6849e1  |  PubMed: 31830008  |  PMC: PMC6919288

Relevance: Moderate: mentioned 3+ times in text

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CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and public health and clinical stakeholders continue to investigate a nationwide outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use–associated lung injury (EVALI) (ref. R1). This report updates demographic and self-reported product-use and substance-use characteristics of hospitalized EVALI patients reported to CDC from available interview or medical record abstraction data. As of December 3, 2019, all 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands) reported 2,291 patients hospitalized with EVALI. A total of 48 (2% of total reported cases) deaths occurred in 25 states and DC. Median patient age was 24 years, 67% were male, and the largest number of weekly hospitalized cases occurred during the week of September 15, 2019; weekly hospitalized cases since then have steadily declined. Among all hospitalized EVALI patients reported to CDC weekly, the percentage of recent cases (patients hospitalized within the preceding 3 weeks) declined from 58% reported November 12 to 30% reported December 3. Overall, 80% of hospitalized EVALI patients reported using tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products. “Dank Vapes,” a class of largely counterfeit THC-containing products of unknown origin, were the most commonly reported THC-containing branded products nationwide and among all major U.S. Census regions. However, regional differences in THC-containing product use were noted; TKO and Smart Cart brands were more commonly reported by patients in the West region compared with other regions. Because most patients reported using THC-containing products before symptom onset, CDC recommends that persons should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC. The nationwide diversity of THC-containing products reported by patients suggests it is unlikely a single brand is responsible for the EVALI outbreak, and regional differences in THC-containing products might be related to product sources. Although it appears that vitamin E acetate is associated with EVALI, many substances and product sources are being investigated, and there might be more than one cause. Therefore, while the investigation continues, persons should consider refraining from the use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

CDC has worked with state health departments and a task force formed by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to develop and disseminate surveillance case definitions* and data collection tools^† to monitor and track cases beginning in August 2019. States and jurisdictions voluntarily report the number of confirmed and probable hospitalized EVALI cases and all EVALI-associated deaths to CDC on a weekly basis. This report is limited to data on hospitalized EVALI patients and all EVALI-associated deaths reported to CDC as of December 3, 2019 (ref. R2), and updates patient demographic characteristics, the number and diversity of self-reported substances, and brands used in e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Distribution of THC-containing brands is reported nationally and by U.S. Census region.^§ 2018 U.S. Census population estimates were used to calculate rates (hospitalized EVALI cases per 1 million population) by state.^¶ Because of the time required to investigate cases, weekly reports to CDC include recent EVALI cases (patients hospitalized within the preceding 3 weeks) and past EVALI cases (those hospitalized earlier). To assess the recent trajectory of the EVALI outbreak, this report examined the percentage of all hospitalized EVALI patients reported weekly who had been hospitalized within the preceding 3 weeks.

As of December 3, 2019, all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported 2,291 hospitalized EVALI cases to CDC (Table). Overall, a total of 48 (2% of total reported cases) EVALI-associated deaths occurred in 25 states and DC, which include one nonhospitalized case and two cases with unknown hospitalization status. Among hospitalized EVALI patients for whom data were available, 67% were male, and the median age was 24 years (range = 13–77 years); 78% of patients were aged <35 years and 16% were <18 years. Most EVALI patients were non-Hispanic white (75%), and 16% were Hispanic. Among the 48 deaths, 54% of patients were male, and the median age was 52 years (range = 17–75 years).

Since February 2019, the largest number of hospitalized EVALI patients (217) was reported during the week of September 15, 2019 (Figure 1). Since September 15, there has been a steady decline in hospitalized EVALI patients reported weekly to CDC. Among all hospitalized EVALI patients reported weekly to CDC by states since November 5, 2019, the percentage of recent EVALI cases declined from 58% reported November 12 to 30% reported December 3. Although EVALI cases have been reported in all states, DC, and two US territories, population-based prevalence rates varied widely across states (Figure 2).

As of December 3, among 1,782 hospitalized EVALI patients with information on substances used in e-cigarette, or vaping, products in the 3 months preceding symptom onset, 80% and 35% reported any and exclusive use, respectively, of THC-containing products (Table). This compared with 54% and 13% of hospitalized EVALI patients who reported any and exclusive use, respectively, of nicotine-containing products and 12% and 1% who reported any and exclusive use, respectively, of cannabidiol (CBD)-containing products. Among 214 hospitalized patients who reported using CBD-containing products, 80% also reported using THC-containing products. Among 770 hospitalized patients who reported using THC-containing products and had frequency reported, 75% reported using THC-containing products daily.

Among hospitalized EVALI patients who reported using THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products and had complete data on product use, 482 reported using 152 different products (861 observations; median = 2; range = 1–25). Dank Vapes, the most frequently reported product brand, was used by 56% of hospitalized EVALI patients nationwide (Figure 3). TKO (15%), Smart Cart (13%), and Rove (12%) were the next most commonly reported product brands. When stratified by U.S. Census regions, Dank Vapes remained the most commonly reported THC-containing product in all regions and was reported by >60% of hospitalized EVALI patients in the Northeast and South regions. Regional differences were seen in reported use of many products, including Smart Cart, which was reportedly used by a higher proportion of hospitalized EVALI patients in the West (24%) compared with those in the South (14%), Midwest (14%) and Northeast (6%). TKO was reported by more than twice as many hospitalized EVALI patients in the West (29%) as in the Northeast (14%), Midwest (12%), and South (2%) regions.

Discussion

This report updates the characteristics of hospitalized EVALI patients, as well as those who died, and provides the first national data on the number and diversity of THC-containing products used. Among hospitalized EVALI patients as of December 3, 2019, the age, sex, and race distributions were similar to those reported previously (ref. R1–ref. R3), with a predominance of patients being young adults, male, and white. The persistent decline in number of cases reported each week since mid-September, coupled with the declining percentage of recent cases reported, suggest that the outbreak may have peaked around September 15. However, states continue to report new cases, including deaths, to CDC on a weekly basis. Therefore, this investigation remains ongoing, and it is important for states to remain vigilant with EVALI case finding and reporting.

THC-containing products continue to be the most commonly reported e-cigarette, or vaping, products used by hospitalized EVALI patients; 80% reported any use of these products in the 3 months preceding symptom onset. Dank Vapes were the most commonly reported THC-containing branded product reported nationally, as well as by U.S. Census region, which is consistent with data reported in October from Illinois and Wisconsin (ref. R4). Dank Vapes are a class of largely counterfeit THC-containing products and have been associated with EVALI (ref. R4,ref. R5). However, regional differences in THC-containing product use were identified. The nationwide diversity of THC-containing products reported by EVALI patients highlights that it is not likely a single brand that is responsible for the EVALI outbreak, and that regional differences in THC-containing products might be related to product sources.

The finding that most EVALI patients reported use of THC-containing products, in particular use of counterfeit branded products such as Dank Vapes, is important given recent findings from Minnesota that showed THC-containing products obtained from EVALI patients and counterfeit products seized in the state contained vitamin E acetate (ref. R6). Prior testing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples implicated Vitamin E acetate as a chemical of concern in the outbreak after it was found in all assessed specimens from 29 EVALI patients (ref. R7). Additionally, FDA product testing identified vitamin E acetate in THC-containing products obtained from EVALI patients; among 545 THC-containing products collected from 70 EVALI patients, 79% of the 70 EVALI patients provided at least one THC-containing product, and among those, 76% provided at least one product containing vitamin E acetate.** However, given that a small but consistent number of EVALI patients report exclusive use of nicotine-containing (13%) or CBD-containing (1%) products (ref. R1,ref. R2), additional product and biologic testing from EVALI patients with these use patterns is warranted. Further research is being conducted by CDC and others to compare biologic specimens from EVALI patients with those from nonpatients who use e-cigarette, or vaping, products and to explore possible pathophysiologic mechanisms through which vitamin E acetate might cause lung injury.

The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, data on substances used in e-cigarette, or vaping, products were self-reported or reported by proxies (e.g., family members) and might be subject to recall or social desirability bias. Second, data related to product use were missing for many patients, and conclusions derived from these data might not be generalizable to the entire affected population. Third, many EVALI patients were not interviewed because of loss to follow-up, refusal to be interviewed, or lack of resources to conduct interviews, which might limit the generalizability of these findings to other EVALI patients. Fourth, reporting lags make it difficult to evaluate the trajectory of the outbreak during recent weeks. Finally, these data might be subject to misclassification of substance use for multiple reasons. Patients might not know the content of the e-cigarette, or vaping, products they used, and methods used to collect data regarding substance use varied across jurisdictions. CDC is working with state and federal partners (e.g., FDA) to link epidemiologic, product, and biologic samples to further explore the complexities of the EVALI outbreak.

Based on findings to date, CDC recommends that persons not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC, especially those acquired from informal sources like friends, family members, or in-person or online dealers. In addition, persons should not add any other substances to products not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments. Vitamin E acetate should not be added to e-cigarette, or vaping, products. However, although it appears that vitamin E acetate is associated with EVALI, many substances and product sources are being investigated, and there might be more than one cause. Therefore, while the investigation continues, persons should consider refraining from the use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Adults using e-cigarette, or vaping, products to quit smoking should not return to smoking cigarettes; they should weigh all risks and benefits and consider using FDA-approved cessation medications.^†† Adults who continue to use e-cigarette, or vaping, products should carefully monitor themselves for symptoms and see a health care provider immediately if they develop symptoms similar to those reported in this outbreak (ref. R8). Irrespective of the ongoing investigation, e-cigarette, or vaping, products should never be used by youths, young adults, or pregnant women.

References

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