Electronic cigarette use and postpartum depression prevalence: The pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system (PRAMS)

Background E -cigarettes are often perceived as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes; however, their effects on health, particularly postpartum depression (PPD), are not well understood. This study aims to quantify the association between e-cigarette use and the prevalence of PPD. Methods We used data from 183,689 mothers enrolled in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS 2015–2020) operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We used logistic regression to estimate the PPD prevalence ratio (PR) and the marginal effects (ME) of vaping. Results E -cigarette use was reported by 4.9 % (8862) of mothers, while 8.2 % (14,858) reported using combustible cigarettes. Symptoms of PPD were present in 14.4 % (26,080) of participants. The PR of PPD among e-cigarette users was 1.61 (95 % CI: 1.48, 1.75). The PR remained significant, 1.31 (95 % CI: 1.20, 1.43), after adjusting for sociodemographic and perinatal health indicators of mothers and infants. Unadjusted ME from e-cigarette use was 6.2 % (95 % CI: 4.9, 7.4), and adjusted ME was 3.0 % (95 % CI: 2.0, 4.0) of PPD prevalence . Conclusions E -cigarette use was significantly associated with a higher prevalence ratio of PPD.