Abstract
The difference of smoker’s topography has been found to be a function many factors, including sex, personality, nicotine yield, cigarette type (i.e., flavored versus non-flavored) and ethnicity. We evaluated the puffing behaviors of Korean smokers and its association with smoking-related biomarker levels. A sample of 300 participants was randomly recruited from metropolitan areas in South Korea. Topography measures during a 24-hour period were obtained using a CReSS pocket device. Korean male smokers smoked two puffs less per cigarette compared to female smokers (15.0 (13.0–19.0) vs. 17.5 (15.0–21.0) as the median (Interquartile range)), but had a significantly larger puff volume (62.7 (52.7–75.5) mL vs. 53.5 (42.0–64.2) mL); p = 0.012). The interpuff interval was similar between men and women (8.9 (6.5–11.2) s vs. 8.3 (6.2–11.0) s; p = 0.122) but much shorter than other study results. A dose-response association (p = 0.0011) was observed between daily total puff volumes and urinary cotinine concentrations, after controlling for sex, age, household income level and nicotine addiction level. An understanding of the difference of topography measures, particularly the larger puff volume and shorter interpuff interval of Korean smokers, may help to overcome a potential underestimation of internal doses of hazardous byproducts of smoking.
Highlights
The adverse health effects of cigarette smoking are well documented
Another study found that the higher levels of nicotine metabolites in men relative to women were associated with the puff volumes, as well as the height, weight, and nicotine metabolism of smokers [9]
The outcome of our study demonstrated similar puff volumes, puff durations, average puff flow rates, and peak flow rates as those obtained from US-dwelling Korean immigrants and American citizens who used the same type of topograph measuring device
Summary
The adverse health effects of cigarette smoking are well documented. The rate of death from any cause was 2 to 3 times higher among current smokers as compared to persons who never smoked [1]. In many smoking-related studies, smoking related health effects or the severity of smoking consumption were mainly associated with the duration of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, choice of brand [2,3], cigarette type [4] or topographical factors related to smoking (e.g., puff count per cigarette, puff duration, interpuff interval) [5,6]. One study reported that smokers of “ultra-low/low” nicotine-yield cigarettes exhibited. 2.7times more intensive smoking behaviors (p = 0.024) to achieve the same salivary cotinine levels as Japanese smokers of “medium/high” nicotine-yield cigarettes [7]. In the United States, a study reported that Korean-Americans tended to exhibit higher average puff flows (p = 0.05), greater peak puff flows (p = 0.02), and shorter interpuff intervals (p < 0.001), compared to Americans of Caucasian descent [8]. Another study found that the higher levels of nicotine metabolites in men relative to women were associated with the puff volumes, as well as the height, weight, and nicotine metabolism of smokers [9]
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