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#UNHAPPYBIRTHDAY 
Today marks the first #anniversary of one of the worst ever #vaping-related publications out of
, as judged by its scientific (non-)value 
#Pharma-backed media campaign misperceptions created
What had happened?
Thread
1/n
Today marks the first #anniversary of one of the worst ever #vaping-related publications out of
, as judged by its scientific (non-)value #Pharma-backed media campaign misperceptions createdWhat had happened?
Thread1/n
A Prof. claimed to have identified the mechanism for vaping-related #organ #damage that in #reallife nobody has ever observed for nicotine #ECigarettes
Actual
#experts in the field were very quick to point out the many #flaws in the paper
https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-study-looking-at-e-cigarette-vapour-and-vascular-effects-in-mice-and-smokers/
2/n
Prof. claimed to have identified the mechanism for vaping-related #organ #damage that in #reallife nobody has ever observed for nicotine #ECigarettesActual
#experts in the field were very quick to point out the many #flaws in the paperhttps://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-study-looking-at-e-cigarette-vapour-and-vascular-effects-in-mice-and-smokers/
2/n
The official @escardio press release & accompanying #mediacampaign, incl. numerous interviews by the Prof., made #exaggerated policy recommendations neither founded on the paper nor a smart #PublicHealth choice at any time
E.g.: Let's ban #eCigs were
are widely available!
3/n
E.g.: Let's ban #eCigs were
are widely available!3/n
The story was uncritically picked up by all major #media, possibly because it nicely fed into the #EVALI scare stories of the preceding months
#Medical media for #HealthcareProfessionals like @Medscape joined in on the feeding frenzy, even claiming "acute organ damage"
4/n
#media, possibly because it nicely fed into the #EVALI scare stories of the preceding months#Medical media for #HealthcareProfessionals like @Medscape joined in on the feeding frenzy, even claiming "acute organ damage"
4/n
Result?
Likely not a single 
from all the headlines
Not a dent in prevalence (around 28% for years!)
http://debra-study.info/wordpress/
5/n
Likely not a single from all the headlinesNot a dent in prevalence (around 28% for years!)http://debra-study.info/wordpress/
5/n
Result (continued)?
More #misperceptions about #relativerisks of #ecigs
Less #HealthLiteracy
Less #InformedDecision #ConsumerChoice
@BfRde @BfRen survey: Only 5% of German smokers are aware that #vaping poses a much lower risk than
https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/350/bfr-verbrauchermonitor-2019-spezial-e-zigaretten.pdf
6/n
More #misperceptions about #relativerisks of #ecigs Less #HealthLiteracyLess #InformedDecision #ConsumerChoice@BfRde @BfRen survey: Only 5% of German smokers are aware that #vaping poses a much lower risk than
https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/350/bfr-verbrauchermonitor-2019-spezial-e-zigaretten.pdf
6/n
As if #AllOfTheAbove was not enough, the Prof. added a non-systematic LitRev in 06/20 for #badmeasure
https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa460
Colorful pics made the ridiculous claim that the same "level of evidence" existed for BOTH #smoking (
) AND #vaping (
) to be linked to #COPD
7/n
https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa460
Colorful pics made the ridiculous claim that the same "level of evidence" existed for BOTH #smoking (
) AND #vaping () to be linked to #COPD7/n
Again, real experts like @UteMons quickly pointed out the many methodological #flaws in the #biased review:
"no transparency"
"selective choice of literature"
"non-scientific"
Brought to you by @Medscape & a #Pharma #COPD drug maker:
https://deutsch.medscape.com/artikelansicht/4909104
8/n
"no transparency""selective choice of literature""non-scientific"Brought to you by @Medscape & a #Pharma #COPD drug maker:
https://deutsch.medscape.com/artikelansicht/4909104
8/n
Then the surprising, almost #unbelievable turn of story in 07/20:
https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa267
incl. reference to e.g. : https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2019/november/smokers-who-switch-to-vaping-see-improvements-in-their-blood-vessel-health
Actual change of mind or desperate try to rescue a Prof's reputation?
Whatever, at least some clear Q&A's, though (too?) late.
9/n
https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa267
incl. reference to e.g. : https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2019/november/smokers-who-switch-to-vaping-see-improvements-in-their-blood-vessel-health
Actual change of mind or desperate try to rescue a Prof's reputation?
Whatever, at least some clear Q&A's, though (too?) late.
9/n
#UnintendedConsequence
Huge damage to #eCigs #vaping #HarmReduction #HealthLiteracy #PublicHealth #InformedDecision #ConsumerChoice
Tremendous damage to a Prof's scientific #reputation
My guess: #Science is more likely to mend than
#ScienceMatters
10/10
Huge damage to #eCigs #vaping #HarmReduction #HealthLiteracy #PublicHealth #InformedDecision #ConsumerChoiceTremendous damage to a Prof's scientific #reputationMy guess: #Science is more likely to mend than #ScienceMatters
10/10
