Heated tobacco products vs conventional cigarettes: a scoping review of cardiovascular and respiratory clinical outcomes

The primary objective of this article is to provide an overview of studies in humans that evaluate and compare the effects of heated tobacco products (HTPs) with those of conventional cigarette smoking on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. To address this research question, a scoping review methodology was employed. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant articles published between January 2014 and March 2025. Two reviewers independently screened all articles. This process resulted in the identification of 34 articles deemed appropriate to the aims of this scoping review. Despite the heterogeneity of the available data, the current evidence suggests that HTPs are associated with a lower harmful impact on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems as compared to conventional cigarettes. However, considering the relatively recent introduction of HTPs, in contrast to the long latency periods typically required for the development of smoking-related chronic diseases, as well as the evolving design and composition of these products, it is not surprising that definitive conclusions regarding their clinical, and public health impact bring up the need to be integrated by long-term evidence derived from independently conducted studies.