This is a summary of information on cases and deaths in the U.S. due to e-cigarettes or vaping. The data is summarized in the table. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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What is already known about this topic?

CDC and partners are investigating the ongoing outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use–associated lung injury (EVALI) in the United States, the District of Columbia, and one U.S. territory.

What is added by this report?

As of October 22, 2019, a total of 1,604 cases of EVALI, including 34 deaths, were reported to CDC. Based on data collected as of October 15, 2019, use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing products in the 3 months preceding symptom onset was reported by 86% of patients. The median age of EVALI patients who survived was 23 years, and the median age of EVALI patients who died was 45 years.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Most EVALI patients report using THC-containing products before symptom onset. CDC recommends that persons should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products containing THC. Because the specific compound or ingredient causing EVALI is not known, persons should consider refraining from use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

TABLE. Characteristics of patients with electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), or vaping, product use–associated lung injury (EVALI) reported to CDC — United States, August–October 2019*
Characteristic	No. /Total No. (%^†)
Characteristic	EVALI patients who survived	EVALI–associated deaths	All EVALI patients
Sex
Male	947/1,349 (70)	17/29 (59)	964/1,378 (70)
Female	402/1,349 (30)	12/29 (41)	414/1,378 (30)
Age group (yrs)
13–17	735/1,335 (55)^§	2/29 (7)^§	196/1,364 (14)
18–24	735/1,335 (55)^§	2/29 (7)^§	541/1,364 (40)
25–34	339/1,335 (25)	5/29 (17)	344/1,364 (25)
35–44	165/1,335 (12)	7/29 (24)	172/1,364 (13)
45–64	79/1,335 (6)	8/29 (28)	87/1,364 (6)
65–75	17/1,335 (1)	7/29 (24)	24/1,364 (2)
Median age, yrs (range)
Overall	23 (13–72)	45 (17–75)	24 (13–75)
Male	23 (13–68)	55 (17–71)	23 (13–71)
Female	25 (13–72)	43 (27–75)	25 (13–75)
Race/Ethnicity^¶
White	283/365 (78)	15/18 (83)	298/383 (78)
Black or African American	22/365 (6)**	1/18 (6)**	9/383 (2)
American Indian or Alaska Native			4/383 (1)
Asian, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander			5/383 (1)
Other			5/383 (1)
Hispanic	60/365 (16)	2/18 (11)	62/383 (16)
Substances used in e-cigarette, or vaping, products^††,§§
THC-containing products, any use	733/848 (86)	16/19 (84)	749/867 (86)
Nicotine-containing products, any use	545/848 (64)	7/19 (37)	552/867 (64)
Both THC- and nicotine-containing products, any use	451/848 (53)	4/19 (21)	455/867 (52)
THC-containing products, exclusive use	282/848 (33)	12/19 (63)	294/867 (34)
Nicotine-containing products, exclusive use	94/848 (11)	3/19 (16)	97/867 (11)
No THC- or nicotine-containing products reported	21/848 (2)	0/19 (0)	21/867 (2)

Abbreviation: THC = tetrahydrocannabinol.
* Reported as of October 15, 2019.
^† Percentages might not add up to 100% because of rounding.
^§ Data for the 13–17 and 18–24 age groups were combined to protect patient identity.
^¶ Whites; blacks or African Americans; American Indians or Alaska Natives; Asians, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; and Others were non-Hispanic. Hispanic persons could be of any race.
** Data for persons in the following race/ethnicity groups were combined to protect patient identity: black or African American; American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander, and Other.
^†† In the 3 months preceding symptom onset; categories not mutually exclusive.
^§§ Data on both THC- and nicotine-containing product use required to be included.

Author/s:

Moritz, E.D., Zapata, L.B., Lekiachvili, A, Glidden, E, Annor, F.B., Werner, A., Ussery, E, Hughes, M.M., Kimball, A, DeSisto, C.L., Kenemer, E.H., Shamout, M, Garcia, M.C., Reagan-Steiner, S, Petersen, E.E., Koumans, E.H., Ritchey, M.D., King, BA, Jones, CM, Briss, PA, Delaney, L, Patel, A, Polen, KD, Sives, K, Meaney-Delman, D, Chatham-Stephens, K, Lung Injury Response Epidemiology/Surveillance Group

EVALI

Update: Characteristics of Patients in a National Outbreak of E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use–Associated Lung Injuries — United States, October 2019

TABLE. Characteristics of patients with electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), or vaping, product use–associated lung injury (EVALI) reported to CDC — United States, August–October 2019*