Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are novel, battery-operated inhalation devices that provide warm, vaporized nicotine, and often propylene glycol, to users without the inclusion of tobacco smoke. Because men, in general, are more likely to use cigarettes and illicit drugs than women, a qualitative study was undertaken to investigate the beliefs and perceived social norms regarding this issue among 47 teenage boys who self-identified themselves as current e-cigarette smokers. The majority of respondents reported that they used e-cigarettes because of expeditious consumption and concealment. Furthermore, the most common places respondents self-reported using e-cigarettes were everywhere, in school bathrooms, at home, and in school staircases. Interestingly, respondents stated that e-cigarettes are popular because they are accessible, healthier than tobacco cigarettes, and more aesthetically pleasing. Because of the growing popularity and uncertainty regarding the social and physical consequences of e-cigarettes, this study shows a need for additional research discovery.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the health disparities and structural racism among African Americans. We examined overlaps between the COVID-19 pandemic and HIV epidemic using an intersectional stigma framework through the lens of Critical Race Theory. Intersectional stigma, medical mistrust, and decreased likelihood of referral for HIV and COVID-19 testing leads to decreased engagement in the healthcare system. Social inequities increase health disparities and lead to increased rates of chronic diseases, which increases the risk and severity of COVID-19. Solutions to mitigate impact among African Americans include increasing engagement regarding African American health, funding, and providers of color.

Background Most research on SARS-CoV-2 variants focuses on initial symptomatology with limited data on longer-term sequelae. We sought to characterize the prevalence and differences in prolonged symptoms at three months post SARS-CoV-2-infection across the three major variant time-periods (pre-Delta, Delta, and Omicron). Methods This multicenter prospective cohort study of adults with acute illness tested for SARS-CoV-2 compared fatigue severity, fatigue symptoms, individual and organ system-based symptoms, and presence of ≥3 total symptoms across variants among COVID-positive and COVID-negative participants 3 months after their initial SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. Variant periods were defined by dates with ≥50% dominant strain. We performed a sensitivity analysis using ≥90% dominance threshold and multivariable logistic regression modeling to estimate the independent effects of each variant adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, baseline health, and vaccine status. Results The study included 3,223 participants (2,402 COVID-positive and 821 COVID-negative). Among the COVID-positive cohort, 463 (19.3%) were pre-Delta, 1,198 (49.9%) during Delta, and 741 (30.8%) during Omicron. Prolonged severe fatigue was highest in the pre-Delta COVID-positive cohort compared with Delta and Omicron cohorts (16.7% vs 11.5% vs 12.3%, respectively; p = 0.017), as was presence of ≥3 prolonged symptoms (28.4% vs 21.7% vs 16.0%; p < 0.001). No difference was seen in the COVID-negative cohort between variant time-periods. In multivariable models, there was no difference in severe fatigue between variants. There was decreased odds of having ≥3 symptoms in Omicron compared with other variants; this was not significant after adjusting for vaccination status. Conclusions Prolonged symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection were more common among participants infected during the pre-Delta period compared with Delta and Omicron periods; however, these differences were no longer significant after adjusting for vaccination status. This suggests a potential beneficial effect of vaccination on the risk of developing long-term symptoms.