Consumption Of Tobacco Products Research Articles

How is smoking distributed in relation to socioeconomic status? Evidence from Brazil in the years 2013 and 2019

The present study aimed to analyze income-related inequality in tobacco consumption in Brazil using data from the National Health Survey at two points in time (2013 and 2019). This study contributes to the growing literature analyzing socioeconomic inequalities in tobacco use by investigating income-related inequalities in the consumption of different tobacco products in Brazil. The inequality measure is the concentration index with an Erreygers correction (EI), and the analysis of its decomposition allows the identification of the factors that determine such inequality. There is inequality in smoking concentrated in the poorest persons, and this pattern also occurs for manufactured cigarettes and roll-your-own cigarettes (RYO), while inequality in smoking cessation is concentrated among the wealthiest. Smoking inequalities were greater in men, older age groups, and RYO. In terms of evolution, the overall results indicated a small decline in smoking inequality. For the decomposition analysis, the results show that the main factors that affect tobacco inequality in terms of concentration in the poorest are education, income, and having private health insurance. The region variable, by contrast, has a positive contribution, since the wealthiest regions have individuals who are more likely to smoke. These results have important implications that serve as a basis for formulating public health policies. For example, greater inequalities for men and older individuals can be targeted by public policies with a special focus on these cases.

Determinants of ever smoking and active smoking among school-aged children in Jeddah

ObjectivesThis study estimated the prevalence and investigated the determinants of ever-smoking and active smoking among school-aged children in Jeddah. Such data are crucial for developing optimal preventive and corrective strategies to address smoking among youth. MethodA school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah City, KSA, from September 2020 to December 2020. It included 6770 children attending grades 4–12, who were selected from 60 public and private elementary, middle, and secondary schools through multistage random-cluster sampling. An Arabic version of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence and predictors of tobacco use. ResultThe prevalence of ever smoking was 14.1% (95% CI = 13.2–14.9%), and the mean age at which children smoked their first cigarette or took any puffs was 13.76 years (SD = 2.23). The prevalence of active smoking was 3.8% (95% CI = 3.3–4.3%), and the amounts and frequency of cigarettes smoked in the past 30 days among smokers were relatively low. The most commonly consumed tobacco products were cigarettes (47.2%) and hookah (42.9%). In most cases, active smokers bought cigarettes by themselves from groceries or convenience stores, or received them from a person to whom they were close. Ever smoking was independently associated with older age, male gender, private school, the mother's working status, and exposure to passive smoking indoors or outdoors. Active smoking was independently associated with older age, male gender, private school, a high amount of pocket money, perceived ease of obtaining tobacco products, and exposure to passive smoking. ConclusionThe observed smoking patterns among school-aged children in Jeddah corresponded to occasional smoking, and family-related determinants were significant contributors. The findings highlight the relevance of implementing smoking cessation interventions and awareness campaigns, at both the school and community levels, to achieve maximal benefit.

Arterial hypertension and its covariates among nomadic Raute hunter-gatherers of Western Nepal: a mixed-method study

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of, and understand the factors associated with, hypertension among the nomadic Raute hunter-gatherers of Western Nepal.DesignA mixed-method study.SettingThe study was carried out at Raute temporary campsites...

Tobacco consumption, sales, and output as monitoring indicators in the era of the tobacco endgame: a Korean example.

The consumption, sales, and output of tobacco products each suggest different areas of intervention for tobacco control. In the era of the tobacco endgame, as increasingly stronger supply-side measures are implemented, multifaceted indicators that assess both supply and/or demand are required. We aimed to estimate the consumption of cigarette and heated tobacco products (HTPs) and sought agreement between the various indicators. The annual cigarette and HTP consumption in 2014-2020 was calculated using the frequency and intensity of cigarette use from representative surveys of adults and adolescents by sex and age. Sales and output data were acquired from governmental sources. Spearman correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare the indicators. Tobacco output, cigarette sales, and cigarette consumption were greatest in 2014. The HTP consumption calculated for 2020 was 292.28 million packs. Cigarette consumption and sales correlated significantly, as did tobacco output and tobacco sales. A Bland-Altman plot comparing the difference between cigarette consumption and sales showed that this difference was largest in 2014, immediately before cigarette prices increased. With the exception of a single year, all cigarette consumption values were within the limits of agreement for cigarette sales and tobacco output. Our analyses showed agreement between demand-side (tobacco consumption) and supply-side (sales and output) indicators. We recommend using all indicators to monitor the impacts of tobacco control on both demand and supply sides. The systematic use of various indicators is critical to achieve the end of the tobacco epidemic.

Socio-economic modeling of the effect of smokers’ transition to smokeless technologies

Research objective: Quantitative estimation of social-demographic and social-economic impact of the switch of traditional cigarettes smoking to modified risk tobacco products consumption, based on effect upon smoking-related mortality and diseases rates.Methods. Target group – consumers of smoking tobacco: conventional cigarettes (CC) and modified risk tobacco products (MRTP). Base of calculations – analysis of available time series for: CC and MRTP consumption, life expectancy and healthy life expectancy coefficients, statistics on smoking-related mortality and diseases rates, including data on key nosologies (malignant neoplasms of respiratory system, digestive organs, urinary tract; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; circulatory diseases; cerebrovascular diseases.Results. We implemented prognoses for all the above mentioned parameters to year 2035, calculated direct medical and indirect costs for demographic and economic loss with attention to budget impact analysis, developed five scenarios based on different CC and MRTP consumption.The model of switching from CC to MRTP consumption proves a significant decline of demographic and economic burden even with rather modest MRTP replacement for CC. With current practices of switching from CC to MRTP remaining, during 2021–2035 summary impact would result in 3.6 mln of years saved, 7.7 mln of healthy years saved, 120 thous. of mortal cases and 345 thous. diseases cases prevented. The economic burden would be 3.3 trillion rubles lower.Conclusion. Smoking cessation is the optimal method to reduce health risks, and state policy for stimulation of smoking quitting is necessary. Along with that, transition from CC to MRTP may be an alternative way to reduce health risks for those smokers with long smoking history and either psychological or physiological causes who cannot quit smoking.Even small in the terms of percent transition from CC to MRTP may result in significant decrease of demographic and economic burden on the national scale.

Stroke prevention – review of the latest reports

Introduction and purpose: According to WHO 15 million people suffer from stroke, one-third of which dies and the other one-third is permanently disabled. For this reason, this condition is a very important medical and social problem. It is one of the leading causes of death, after cardiovascular diseases and cancer. It is also one of the most common causes of disability in the adult population. The economic aspects are related not only to the costs of hospital treatment, but above all to rehabilitation and chronic treatment. The aim of this article is to present the most important stroke risk factors and, based on them, to describe recommendations for effective stroke prevention.
 A brief description of the state of knowledge: In recent years, numerous studies have been conducted on the relationship between various factors and the risk of stroke. It turned out that many stroke risk factors are modifiable and by using various methods we are able to significantly reduce the risk of its occurrence. The most important risk factor is the patient's hypertension. Others are cardiovascular diseases such as atrial fibrillation; diabetes, obesity, low level of physical activity, improper diet, consumption of alcohol and tobacco products.
 Summary: Through education and promotion of a healthy lifestyle in society (high physical activity, healthy diet, lack of addictions, taking care of mental health and avoiding excessive stress), as well as regular blood pressure and glucose control and effective treatment of conditions leading to stroke, the incidence of stroke among people can actually be reduced. This issue still requires further research and constant expansion of our knowledge.

Analysis of trends in the consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products in the Russian Federation according to the results of online surveys 2019—2023

Analysis of trends in the consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products in the Russian Federation according to the results of online surveys 2019—2023

Conditions for the development of motivation for the consumption of alcohol and tobacco products

<h3></h3> Актуальность исследования обусловлена отсутствием системных данных о причинно-следственных связях условий среды обитания, социального статуса и популяционного фенотипа с алкоголизацией и табакокурением населения России. <h3>ЦЕЛЬ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ</h3> Определить направленность и выраженность связей природных, социальных и фенотипических факторов востребованности человеком легальных психоактивных веществ (ПАВ). <h3>МАТЕРИАЛ И МЕТОДЫ</h3> На первом, теоретическом, этапе работы выявлены связи уровня потребления легальных ПАВ с основными показателями среды жизнедеятельности населения России. На втором, экспериментальном, этапе работы с участием 112 студентов в возрасте 18—25 лет — представителей коренного населения Самарской области изучены связи показателей фенотипического статуса с уровнем потребления алкоголя и табакокурения. Исследование выполнено в очном режиме, анонимно, во время плановых учебных занятий в апреле 2021 г. Для выявления и интерпретации опыта потребления легальных ПАВ использованы стандартные показатели (длительность, кратность и дозы потребления) алкогольной и табачной зависимости. Психологический статус участников исследования определяли посредством оценки показателей Фрайбургского многофакторного личностного опросника, акцентуаций темперамента и характера, фрустрации, авантюрности и социальной деструктивности. Функциональный статус обследуемых оценивали по уровню общей неспецифической реактивности организма. <h3>РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ И ОБСУЖДЕНИЕ</h3> Выявлен линейный характер распределения значений показателей уровня потребления легальных ПАВ от максимальных величин, характерных для жителей северных и восточных территорий России со среднегодовой температурой воздуха от 0 °C и ниже, до минимальных значений алкоголизации и табакокурения, характерных для населения южных территорий европейской части России со среднегодовой температурой воздуха от +8,3 °C и выше. Определен линейный характер обратной связи среднегодовой температуры воздуха с основным показателем криминальной напряженности социума — уровнем убийств, а также уровнем самоубийств, отражающим выраженность депрессивных состояний у населения Российской Федерации. Выявлены связи некоторых показателей фенотипа, определяющих биологическую и психологическую предрасположенность к потреблению ПАВ, с индивидуальным уровнем алкоголизации и табакокурением. Подтверждена прямая связь высокого уровня неспецифической реактивности организма с кратностью потребления алкоголя и относительным количеством курильщиков среди студенческой молодежи. Выявлены показатели, комплексно превалирующие у потребителей легальных ПАВ: авантюрность, спонтанная и реактивная агрессивность, характерные для мужчин и женщин, потребляющих алкоголь, а также для курящих мужчин. Курящие женщины на фоне остальных выделенных групп потребителей ПАВ по ряду психологических показателей (фрустрации, депрессивности, спонтанной агрессивности, раздражительности и социальной деструктивности) демонстрируют незначительно пониженное их проявление по отношению к некурящим женщинам, что, вероятно, обусловлено выраженной адаптивной реакцией женского организма на табакокурение. <h3>ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ</h3> Определена системность средовой обусловленности алкоголизации и табакокурения у населения России. Охарактеризованы связи природных, социальных и фенотипических факторов востребованности человеком легальных психоактивных веществ.

Modelos Organizacionais para sustentabilidade do Programa Nacional de Controle do Tabagismo: uma proposta piloto a ser adotada nacionalmente

Abstract Introduction The consumption of tobacco products, from planting to consumption, is responsible for serious health problems, representing a cycle of diseases, poverty and deaths worldwide. This serious public health problem led Brazil to develop, from the 1980s onwards, a set of tobacco control measures, constituting a policy with legislative, economic, communication and educational actions, which has as its foundation the National Program for Control of Tobacco. Tobacco (PNCT). Objective This article is an experience report that is part of a national study carried out between 2020 and 2022, and describes actions through technical visits to tobacco control coordination offices in five states. Method The states were selected according to criteria established by Ditab/INCA, which coordinates the network of the State Program for Tobacco Control (PECT) in the 26 States and Federative Unit of the country. Thus, a State of each region was chosen: Tocantins (North), Paraíba (Northeast), Goiás (Midwest), Rio de Janeiro (Southeast) and Paraná (South). Results Practices were developed to enhance, improve and add technical, political, communication actions, among others, in order to give sustainability to the State Program and, more broadly, the PNCT.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Non-Communicable Diseases among Students and Staff at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education in Tanzania

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are among the major public health problems facing the world today. Despite contributing to over half of all deaths worldwide, and being a major challenge in low- and middle-income countries, NCDs have received less attention. In Tanzania, studies focusing on the assessment of comprehensive knowledge of NCDs are lacking. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE) community on selected NCDs. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices on selected NCDs. The study involved both students and staff at the DUCE. A descriptive analysis was adopted for the quantitative data collected through structured questionnaires. The study findings show that the general knowledge of the DUCE community about some selected NCDs was generally high. However, there was a very low level of knowledge about risk factors, early symptoms and preventive measures. Regarding risk factors, a very small proportion of students (1.6%) and staff (3.1%) consumed tobacco products. Only 75 (13.1%) of students and 70 (36.5%) of staff consumed alcohol. The intake of fruits and vegetables among the community was insufficient. About 493 (86%) of the students and 135 (70.3%) of the staff added salt or salty sauce to their meals. As for physical activities, 234 (40.8%) of the students and 99 (51.6%) of the staff reported that they ran or participated in games and sports for at least one day in a week. The study concludes that while generally there is a high level of knowledge about NCDs, there is a very low level of knowledge about risk factors, early symptoms and preventive measures. The study underlines the need to increase the awareness of the DUCE population on risk factors associated with NCDs, early signs and preventive measures that people should take to prevent NCDs in the future.

The Quest for Effective Tobacco Control Strategies: Revisiting Price and Taxation Policy

The prevailing wisdom in scholarly and policy-making institutions dealing with public health is that skillful use of price and taxation policy will reduce the prevalence of tobacco consumption because of the inverse relationship between tobacco price and consumption. Empirical evidence of this axiomatic inverse relationship has been sparse. This paper analyzes the effects of increased taxation on consumption of tobacco products in 162 countries during 2005-2020. Results indicate that there is weak negative relationship between change in adult smoking prevalence and change in taxation suggesting that higher tax rates on tobacco products tend to lower adult smoking prevalence, but in a modest rather than robust sort of way. The small negative association indicates that perhaps it will take very large tax increases to meaningfully affect adult smoking.

Gender and Tobacco Consumption among University Students.

In 2019, an estimated 155 million people aged between 15 and 24 were smokers. It is also known that 82.6% of current smokers started smoking between 14 and 25 years old. Tobacco uses in adolescents and young adults can lead to the development of serious and potentially life-threatening health problems. The aim of the present investigation is to identify and describe the practices related to the consumption of tobacco products and their distribution according to gender among students at the University of Algarve. This is an exploratory, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. For inferential statistics, a non-parametric analysis (χ2) was performed. The sample consisted of 326 university students, 75.5% female, with an average age of 26.03 years. In this sample, 45% of men and 57.7% of women reported never having smoked. In male students, the pattern of combined consumption is more frequent, with female students preferring conventional cigarettes. Statistically significant differences were found between genders for the pattern of tobacco consumption, the number of colleagues/peers who smoke, the opinion about tobacco-free outdoor spaces and the knowledge about new forms of tobacco/nicotine consumption. The university campus is identified by students as the second space where they most consume tobacco products and where they are most exposed to tobacco smoke. This fact forces a reflection on the strategies to be implemented to develop a healthier university.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Tobacco Use among High School Students

Tobacco use is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Tobacco use among school-level students is a growing a public health problem in Nepal. A number of factors may be associated with tobacco use, but there is lack of literature showcasing an in-depth understanding of the growing prevalence of tobacco use in the Nepalese context. Therefore, our study aims to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and examine the factors associated with tobacco use among high school students at public schools in Budhanilkantha municipality, Kathmandu, Nepal. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and 378 students were selected for this study. The schools were selected randomly. Data collection was carried out using the self-administered questionnaires adapted from the World Health Organization used Global Youth Tobacco Survey and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention used Youth Tobacco Survey. Overall, 31.7% of the students ever consumed any tobacco products, and 20.1% were current tobacco users. One in five students started smoking when they were less than ten years of age. The proportion of students seeing at least one family member smoking and using smokeless tobacco was 52.1% and 47.1% respectively. Male and older students were significantly more likely to consume tobacco products than female and young students. This study showed that a significant proportion of school students had experienced tobacco use. Age and sex of the students were significantly associated with the status of current smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco.

Clustering of unhealthy behaviours and subsequent sickness absence among Finnish municipal employees

Abstract Background Unhealthy behaviours are associated with increased sickness absence (SA), but few studies have explored these associations using person-oriented approach. We aimed to identify latent classes of unhealthy behaviours among female and male employees and examined their associations with subsequent SA. Methods Health behaviours (leisure-time physical activity, sedentary behaviour, fruit and vegetable [F&amp;V] consumption, sleep, binge drinking, and use of tobacco products) were derived from the Helsinki Health Study questionnaire survey, collected in 2017 among 19-39-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland. The questionnaire data were linked to employer's SA register. Latent class analysis was used to identify underlying profiles of unhealthy behaviours and negative binomial regression was used to examine their associations with subsequent SA (≤7 days, &amp;gt;7 days, and all lengths) among 3228 women and 771 men. The mean follow-up time was 2.1 years. Results Among women, we identified 3 latent classes: 1) healthy behaviours (81% of women), 2) binge drinking and tobacco use (12%), and 3) inadequate F&amp;V consumption and insufficient sleep (7%). Classes 2 and 3 showed increased rates for subsequent SA compared to class 1, regardless of the length of SA spells (age-adjusted rate ratios [RR] 1.37-1.42 and 1.35-1.64, respectively). Among men, we identified 3 latent classes: 1) healthy behaviours (51% of men), 2) binge drinking and tobacco use (19%), and 3) inadequate F&amp;V consumption, binge drinking and tobacco use (30%). While classes 1 and 2 were not different in terms of subsequent SA, class 3 had increased rates of subsequent, particularly short-term SA (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.03-1.48). Conclusions Preventive actions should consider simultaneously several unhealthy behaviours while aiming to reduce employees’ SA. These actions might benefit from regarding potential gender differences in the clustering of unhealthy behaviours and their associations with SA. Key messages • Preventive actions to reduce sickness absence should consider clustering of unhealthy behaviours among employees. • Potential gender differences need to be regarded in these actions.

Awareness about pictorial warnings on tobacco products and its impact on tobacco consumers in coastal Karnataka

Background: Tobacco use is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, including cancer. India revised the pictorial warnings on all tobacco products in 2018, but its impact on tobacco consumers after the revision is less studied. Aim and Objective: To assess the awareness of the revised pictorial warnings on tobacco products and the impact of it on tobacco consumers in a coastal town. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st to 31st March 2021 among 185 adult tobacco consumers in a coastal town in Karnataka after obtaining ethical clearance and informed consent. The data was analysed using SPSS version 16.0 by descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Majority (95.7%) were males and 96.2% had seen the pictorial warning on the tobacco products. The commonly consumed tobacco products were panmasala (44.9%), gutka (38.9%), cigarette (31.4%) and bidi (15.1%). The mean age of initiation of consuming tobacco products was 24.8 years and mean duration of the habit was 17 years. Conclusions: A majority (96.2%) have seen the pictorial warnings on the tobacco products and significant predictors for reducing tobacco consumption were those who inferred the pictorial warnings as tobacco is injurious to health and cancerous.

Assessment of COVID-19 Symptoms Distribution According to Tobacco Products Consumption and Khat Chewing: A Potential Antinociceptive Role of Nicotine Among COVID-19 Patients.

PurposeTo assess the distribution of COVID-19 symptoms according to the consumption of tobacco products and khat chewing among samples of Saudi Arabian individuals.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Data was collected online via a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire measured demographic variables, COVID-19 symptoms and vaccination, comorbidities history, tobacco product consumption, and khat chewing. In addition, logistic regression was performed to assess the association between the clinical presentation of COVID-19 with tobacco product consumption and khat chewing.ResultsA total of 1026 subjects were recruited. The mean age of the participants was 31 years, and more than half were male (53%). Among the reported tobacco product consumption, hookah smoking was more frequently reported as a currently consumed tobacco product (14.3%), followed by cigarette smoking (11.5%) and chewing tobacco (3.8%). Thirteen percent (134) were khat chewers at the time of recruitment. The odds of reporting five symptoms or more were higher among patients who have never been tobacco product consumers (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.15–2.35) while accounting for khat chewing, age, vaccination status, and history of comorbidities. Nonetheless, the difference in symptom distribution with khat chewing status was not statistically significant.ConclusionThe findings of the current investigation suggest the presence of a potential impact of nicotine toxicity in masking pain among the subjects infected with COVID-19. Therefore, it is possible to hypothesize that, with the potential masking effect of nicotine, infected smokers may be less likely to suffer from the symptoms and seek official healthcare services, including diagnostic services.

Classification of COPD: fostering prevention and precision medicine in the Lancet Commission on COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent and heterogeneous chronic disease of the lower airways and lungs that is associated with huge morbidity, disability, and mortality worldwide and disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable people. 1 Safiri S Carson-Chahhoud K Noori M et al. Burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its attributable risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: results from the global burden of disease study 2019. BMJ. 2022; 378: e069679 PubMed Google Scholar Pathologically, COPD is characterised by variable degrees of chronic inflammation and remodelling of small airways (bronchiolitis) and destruction of alveolar walls (emphysema). 2 Brusselle GG Joos GF Bracke KR New insights into the immunology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lancet. 2011; 378: 1015-1026 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (529) Google Scholar Diagnosis of COPD relies on respiratory symptoms and the presence of spirometric airflow limitation. 3 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung DiseaseGlobal strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. https://goldcopd.org/2022-gold-reports-2/Date: 2022 Date accessed: July 30, 2022 Google Scholar COPD has long been considered a self-inflicted disease that occurs in adult cigarette smokers as a result of accelerated decline in lung function. 4 Fletcher C Peto R The natural history of chronic airflow obstruction. BMJ. 1977; 1: 1645-1648 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1799) Google Scholar However, epidemiological evidence has shown that many other factors, including indoor and outdoor air pollution, occupational exposures, and use of e-cigarettes and cannabis, also cause COPD. Furthermore, in addition to accelerated lung function decline in adulthood, several other lung function trajectories—characterised by impaired lung development in utero or impaired lung growth in early life—have been linked to COPD. 5 Lange P Celli B Agustí A et al. Lung-function trajectories leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. N Engl J Med. 2015; 373: 111-122 Crossref PubMed Scopus (343) Google Scholar Indeed, COPD can be elicited by early-life events such as prematurity, childhood asthma, and childhood respiratory infections. Importantly, tuberculosis and HIV—common chronic infections, especially in low-income and middle-income countries—can lead to airway obstruction and COPD. Finally, although COPD is a complex disease caused by multiple gene–environment interactions throughout the life course, it is mainly genetically determined in specific subgroups of patients with early-onset COPD or a positive family history (eg, people with α1 antitrypsin deficiency). Towards the elimination of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a Lancet CommissionDespite substantial progress in reducing the global impact of many non-communicable diseases, including heart disease and cancer, morbidity and mortality due to chronic respiratory disease continues to increase. This increase is driven primarily by the growing burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and has occurred despite the identification of cigarette smoking as the major risk factor for the disease more than 50 years ago. Many factors have contributed to what must now be considered a public health emergency: failure to limit the sale and consumption of tobacco products, unchecked exposure to environmental pollutants across the life course, and the ageing of the global population (partly as a result of improved outcomes for other conditions). Full-Text PDF

Daiana Stolz: transforming the agenda for lung health

When I meet Daiana Stolz over videocall, she has travelled from the University of Freiburg, Germany, where she is Director and Chair of the Clinic of Respiratory Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine, to University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, where she is Professor and Attending for Respiratory Medicine and Research Group Leader of Pulmonary Medicine in the Clinic of Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Cell Research. “I'm currently balancing between the two research groups”, she says. At these institutions, she does clinical and translational research focusing on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and respiratory infection. Towards the elimination of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a Lancet CommissionDespite substantial progress in reducing the global impact of many non-communicable diseases, including heart disease and cancer, morbidity and mortality due to chronic respiratory disease continues to increase. This increase is driven primarily by the growing burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and has occurred despite the identification of cigarette smoking as the major risk factor for the disease more than 50 years ago. Many factors have contributed to what must now be considered a public health emergency: failure to limit the sale and consumption of tobacco products, unchecked exposure to environmental pollutants across the life course, and the ageing of the global population (partly as a result of improved outcomes for other conditions). Full-Text PDF

The COVID‑19 pandemic and the consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products: a literature review

The fight against the COVID‑19 pandemic has led to the implementation of unprecedented measures in countries, including self-isolation, which have had a significant impact on people’s behavior and could lead to a change in the consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products. This article provides an overview of studies evaluating smoking behavior change and its impact on the prevalence of tobacco and nicotine use in the community at the start of the pandemic.Methods. The review included 31 published studies with data on smoking from more than 250,000 people from 24 countries that examined the following aspects of the problem: the association of smoking with COVID‑19 outcomes, identification of factors influencing smoking behavior at the beginning of the COVID‑19 pandemic, changing prevalence of tobacco and nicotine consumption at the start of the COVID‑19 pandemic, tobacco company actions during the pandemic, impact of misinformation about the association of smoking with COVID‑19 on consumers of tobacco and nicotine products, government actions to reduce the sale of tobacco and nicotine products during the pandemic time.Findings. All researchers identified mixed responses from consumers of tobacco and nicotine-containing products early in the pandemic. In equal proportions, smokers increased their tobacco/nicotine intake or reduced their smoking intensity. To a lesser extent, consumers quit smoking, but there were respondents who reported starting smoking due to the COVID‑19 pandemic.Conclusion. Monitoring the prevalence of consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products and the causes influencing it in the early periods of the COVID‑19 pandemic made it possible to identify additional effective measures, the implementation of which can prevent the growth of tobacco and nicotine consumption in such situations.

Current medical and social aspects of tobacco and nicotine-containing products consumption in adolescents

Objective. To determine the trends in the structure and assess medical, social and clinical aspects of the consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products among adolescents aged 1417. Material and methods. During the study, 352 adolescents aged 14 to 18 years studying in urban (n = 202) and rural (n = 150) schools of Yaroslavl region were surveyed in 20202021. Statistical processing of the data was carried out using computer programs "Statistica" v.10.0. Results. The survey of teenagers revealed a fairly high prevalence not only of active tobacco smoking (tried 37 %, actively smoked 30 % of adolescents), but also the use of "new" nicotine-containing products (vape, hookah, electronic cigarettes, snus, snuff) (tried 38 %, actively used 7 % of teenagers). The structure of active tobacco use and NRTI use was found to differ by the place of residence. Active tobacco use accounted for 46.7 % of rural adolescents and 19.8 % of urban residents (p 0,01). Conclusions. In modern adolescents, along with tobacco smoking, a negative trend has been detected to increase the use of nicotine-containing products, especially hookah. This substantiates the need to improve educational anti-nicotine programs, to introduce a system of regular regional monitoring of the prevalence of traditional and new nicotine-containing products use among children and adolescents in order to make quick and effective decisions.