Key result
E-cigarette use is rare post-MI or HF, with only ~5% of smokers interested in switching.
Why the study?
The prevalence of e-cigarette use and perceptions among individuals with recent MI or HF diagnosis were unknown in recent years.
Cross-Sectional
Yes
Among US adults with recent myocardial infarction or heart failure, there is very low interest in switching from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes, largely driven by perceptions of high harm.
Clinicians should not recommend e-cigarettes for cessation post-MI or HF; leaves open need for alternative strategies and confirmatory studies.
BACKGROUND: Smoking cessation is recommended for individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD), but cigarette users with myocardial infarction (MI) or heart failure (HF) have difficulty in quitting smoking. The prevalence of e-cigarette use among individuals with MI or HF in recent years is unknown. METHODS: We analyzed nationally representative data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (Wave 7) to assess prevalence of e-cigarette use, perceptions of harm from e-cigarettes, and interest in switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes among individuals with a recent MI or HF diagnosis. RESULTS: Among US adults with a MI or HF diagnosis in the previous year, 22.0% reported cigarette use only, 0.9% reported e-cigarette use only, and 2.7% reported dual cigarette and e-cigarette use. Of cigarette users, only 4.5% reported an interest in switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes. More than two-thirds (70.2%) of participants perceived e-cigarettes as very or extremely harmful. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette users with a recent MI or HF diagnosis reported low interest in switching to e-cigarettes. The low interest, with the concerns about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, suggests that switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes may not be an acceptable strategy to reduce the risk of cigarette smoking in this population.
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Kumar et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Recent myocardial infarction or heart failure. E-cigarette use and perceptions was evaluated on Prevalence of e-cigarette use, perceptions of harm from e-cigarettes, and interest in switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes. E-cigarette use among US adults with recent MI or HF was low (0.9% exclusive, 2.7% dual), and only 4.5% of cigarette users were interested in switching due to high perceived harm (70.2%).
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