The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first documented death due to e-cigarette or vaping-use associated lung injury (EVALI) in the Philippines.
The case was recorded in Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in 2023 involving a 22-year-old Filipino male who had a two-year history of daily vape use prior to his death. He had an active lifestyle and had no previous health issues associated with known comorbidities.
According to the case report of Dr. Margarita Isabel Fernandez and other doctors of the PGH, the e-cigarette use of the patient primarily caused his acute lung injury given that he had no underlying risk factors other than vaping.
Because of this, the DOH is intensifying efforts to lessen the prevalence of tobacco and vape use, particularly among the youth.
“Ang Kagawaran ng Kalusugan ay nananawagan para sa ating sama-samang paglaban sa banta ng tabako at vape bilang tugon sa ating tungkulin bilang mga magulang at lider ng ating komunidad upang protektahan ang kalusugan at kinabukasan ng ating kabataan,” the national health department underscored (The Department of Health is calling upon everyone for our collective fight against the threat of tobacco and vape in response to our duty as parents and leaders of our communities in protecting the health and future of our youth)," Fernandez said.
The burden of tobacco use in the Philippines
The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) revealed that in 2021, the overall use of tobacco in the Philippines significantly decreased from 23.8 percent in 2015 to 19.5 percent in 2021.
The number of deaths that were attributed to tobacco also lessened from 18.2 percent in 2010 to 17.53 percent in 2019.
However, there is an increasing trend of ever vape use among the youth at 24.6 percent in 2019 from the previous 11.7 percent in 2015 as per the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS).
What the government has done to lessen the burden
To protect the youth population from the threat of tobacco industry interference, the DOH is actively campaigning for the promotion of a healthy and vice-free lifestyle.
This initiative is anchored on relevant policies that are aimed at mitigating the demand and supply of tobacco and vapor products as well as strengthening the regulation on the selling and use of these products. PIA
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