However, the study only found an association between vaping and COVID-19 infection, and cannot prove that vaping led to the illness.
The study also took into account a number of factors that could influence participants' risk of infection, such as their self-reported compliance with shelter-in-place orders and the rate of COVID-19 diagnoses in their state, as well as their age, sex, race, body mass index and socioeconomic status.
The researchers also hope their findings will prompt the Food and Drug Administration to tighten regulations on how vaping products are sold to young people.
"Now is the time," Halpern-Felsher said. "We need the FDA to hurry up and regulate these products. And we need to tell everyone: If you are a vaper, you are putting yourself at risk for COVID-19 and other lung diseases."
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