Prevalence and denial of current tobacco product use: Combustible and heated tobacco products, Japan, 2022

Abstract

Monitoring tobacco use has become more complex with the proliferation of novel tobacco products, including heated tobacco products (HTPs). We assessed the latest prevalence and denial of tobacco product use in Japan, a major market for HTPs. 28,124 individuals aged 16–74 responded to a nationwide, internet-based, self-reported survey. Current (past-30-day) tobacco use was assessed for HTPs, cigarettes, non-cigarette combustible tobacco, and dual (combustible plus HTP) use. Denial of current tobacco use was determined when respondents reported past-30-day use of a specific tobacco product (“On how many days did you use [the respective products]?”) but denied having used any tobacco (“Do you currently use tobacco?”) in the past 30 days. Descriptive and multivariable analyses were weighted to account for the selectivity of the internet-based sample. In 2022, current tobacco use was 11.8 % (HTPs), 19.4 % (cigarettes), 3.6 % (non-cigarette combustible tobacco), and 6.8 % (dual use). Among past-30-day users of specific tobacco products (N = 6,343), 19.5 % denied current tobacco use including single-product users of HTPs (10.0 %), cigarettes (21.7 %), and non-cigarette combustible tobacco (53.3 %), and dual users (20.2 %). The likelihood of denying current tobacco use was lower among exclusive HTP users and dual users compared to exclusive cigarette smokers; the likelihood was higher among females, never/non-current drinkers, less-frequent tobacco users, and those not reporting tobacco dependence. HTP use remained high in Japan. One-fifth of past-30-day tobacco users denied having used any tobacco products in the past 30 days. Increasing the sensitivity of questions to assess tobacco use can mitigate nondisclosure of tobacco use status.