New research shows that those who smoke e-cigarettes are 19 per cent more likely to develop heart failure.
Scientists from the American College of Cardiology analysed 175,667 US adults with an average age of 52 for around four years.
Results showed that vapers had a higher chance of developing preserved ejection fraction heart failure.
This is the most common type of heart failure, when the heart muscle becomes too stiff to function properly.
But it does not increase the risk of reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) —when the heart muscle becomes weak and does not contract properly.
The conclusions took into account other impactful elements, such as whether the person also smoked tobacco.
They are being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific conference on Tuesday.
Dr Yakubu Bene-Alhasan, a physician at MedStar Health in Baltimore, Maryland and the study's lead author, said: "More and more studies are linking e-cigarettes to harmful health effects and finding that it might not be as safe as was previously thought.
"The difference we saw was substantial. It's worth considering the consequences to your health, especially your heart health.
"I think this research is long overdue, especially considering how much e-cigarettes have gained traction recently.
"With more research, we will get to uncover a lot more about the potential health consequences and improve the information out to the public.”
It comes as the British government moves to ban disposable vapes in the UK.
The latest data from the NHS Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use survey estimates that 15 per cent of children aged between 11 and 15 in the capital had tried vaping in 2021, the equivalent of more than 101,000 children. More than 13,500 teenagers regularly use vapes, with girls three times more likely to take up the habit.
Separate figures released by the Government show that the number of children vaping in the last three years has tripled.
The ban is expected to come into force at the end of 2024 or the start of 2025.
