Heated Tobacco Product Smokers in Japan Identified by a Population-Based Survey.

Aya Kinjo,Hideaki Nakayama,Susumu Higuchi,Yuki Kuwabara,Maya Fujii,Aya Imamoto,Ruriko Minobe,Hitoshi Maezato,Yoneatsu Osaki,Tsuyoshi Takimura

doi:10.2188/jea.je20190199

Aya Kinjo, Hideaki Nakayama + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2188/jea.je20190199

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Abstract

BackgroundIn this study, we aim to estimate the prevalence of heated tobacco product (HTP) smokers 3 years after the launch of HTPs in Japan.MethodsOur study, performed in February 2018 in Japan, had a cross-sectional population-based design. A total of 4,628 adult participants (2,121 men and 2,507 women) were randomly sampled from all regions of Japan. The response rate was 57.9%. Interviews were conducted by trained investigators who visited participants’ homes. A survey on current (past 30 days) and lifetime tobacco use (including e-cigarettes and HTPs), as well as numerous sociodemographic factors, was conducted.ResultsThe age-adjusted rates and estimated number of lifetime-HTP smokers were 14.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.5–15.6%; 7.11 million men) and 3.7% (95% CI, 2.9–4.4%; 1.99 million women). The age-adjusted rates for current HTP smokers were 8.3% (95% CI, 7.1–9.6%; 4.21 million men) and 1.9% (95% CI, 1.3–2.4%; 1.02 million women). Multiple variables were found to be associated with a higher prevalence of current HTP use, including being male, aged 20–39 years, a current Internet user, a risky drinker, or a heavy episodic drinker. HTP use was also higher among men with 10 years or more of education, women with 15 years or less of education, and men with middle- or high-level household incomes.ConclusionWe concluded that HTP use has increased substantially in Japan. However, regulations for HTPs are weaker than those for combustible cigarettes in Japan. Thus, HTPs should be subjected to the same regulations as combustible tobacco products.

Highlights

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are relatively new, sold by several tobacco companies, and are used with electronic devices that, without combustion, allow smokers to inhale aerosols produced by heated tobacco leaves.[1,2,3]
The age-adjusted rate and estimated number of current HTP smokers in the Japanese population was 5.23 million, with 4.21 million men (8.3%; 95% confidence intervals (CIs), 7.1–9.6%) and 1.02 million women (1.9%; 95% CI, 1.3–2.4%)
The age-adjusted rate of current users of any type of tobacco was 30.8% among men and 9.4% among women

Summary

Introduction

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are relatively new, sold by several tobacco companies, and are used with electronic devices that, without combustion, allow smokers to inhale aerosols produced by heated tobacco leaves.[1,2,3] Tobacco companies advertise HTPs as being relatively less harmful than other forms of tobacco, yet HTP aerosols contain nicotine and other chemicals,[4,5,6] and the potential harm of secondhand exposure to HTPs has been reported.[7,8] In 2014, the first HTP, IQOS, was created in Japan. We aim to estimate the prevalence of heated tobacco product (HTP) smokers 3 years after the launch of HTPs in Japan

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