Prevalence Of Current E-cigarette Use Research Articles

188 DIFFERENTIAL CHANGES IN YOUTH TOBACCO USE BEFORE AND AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF MASSACHUSETTS’ STATEWIDE FLAVOR RESTRICTION POLICY

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: This study examined youth tobacco use, disaggregated by sexual and gender minority (SGM) identity and race, in Massachusetts before and after the state implemented a flavored tobacco restriction. We assessed if the policy differentially impacted groups that have had higher rates of flavored tobacco use (i.e., SGM and African Americans [AAs]). METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Data for this analysis came from the 2019 and 2021 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a biennial, national survey conducted among high school students, provided by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Changes in current use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes between 2019 and 2021 were examined for the entire sample and by SGM identity and race/ethnicity. Current cigarette use and current e-cigarette use were defined as reporting any use of the product in the past 30 days. We received confirmation from the IRB that because the data are de-identified and available to the public, this research is considered Not Human Subjects Research. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Between 2019 and 2021, current cigarette use and current e-cigarette use decreased for the entire sample (3.78% to 2.79% and 27.69% to 15.74%, respectively). Decreases were also observed after disaggregating results, but smaller changes were observed among minoritized groups (i.e., SGM and AAs), particularly for e-cigarettes. Current e-cigarette use decreased 25.56% among individuals identifying as SGM (28.14% to 20.95%) compared to a 49.33% decrease among non-SGM individuals (27.63% to 14.0%). Among all races, AAs had the lowest prevalence of current e-cigarette use in 2019 (15.10%), but also saw the lowest percentage decrease (17.68%). Among whites, current e-cigarette use decreased 45.75% from 32.33% in 2019 to 17.54% in 2021. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: After implementation of Massachusetts’ flavored tobacco restriction, current cigarette and e-cigarette use declined among Massachusetts youth overall and among groups that have been most affected by flavored tobacco. However, minoritized groups (i.e., SGMs, AAs) had lower percentage decreases compared to non-minoritized groups.

Prevalence and Covariates of Electronic Cigarette Use among Students Aged 13-15 Years in the Philippines: 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey.

Electronic cigarette use is growing in popularity and accessibility among youth in the Southeast Asia region. We analyzed data on 6670 students, aged 13-15 years, from the Philippines' 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey. Prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for current use (i.e., past 30 days), ever use, and awareness of e-cigarettes. Chi-square tests compared prevalence differences between groups. Multiple logistic regression models assessed factors associated with e-cigarette use while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, current use of other tobacco products, and secondhand smoke exposure. Prevalence of current e-cigarette use was 14.1% (95% CI = 12.4%, 15.8%), ever use was 24.6% (95% CI = 22.4%, 26.9%), and awareness was 75.5% (95% CI = 73.0%, 78.0%). Current use of any other tobacco products and exposure to secondhand smoke at home, school, or other public places were positively associated with current and ever use of e-cigarettes. Boys and youth living in Luzon or Mindanao had higher odds of current e-cigarette use compared to girls and youth in Visayas. Findings indicated that one in four Philippine students aged 13-15 years ever used e-cigarettes and one in seven currently use e-cigarettes. This study highlights the importance of implementing evidence-based strategies, including relevant tobacco control policies.

E-Cigarette Use Among US Adults in the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey

After the initial disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unclear how patterns of e-cigarette use in the US have changed. To examine recent patterns in current and daily e-cigarette use among US adults in 2021. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) database. The BRFSS is the largest national telephone-based survey of randomly sampled adults in the US. Adults aged 18 years or older, residing in 49 US states (all except Florida), the District of Columbia, and 3 US territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands), were included in the data set. Data analysis was performed in January 2023. The main outcome was age-adjusted prevalence of current and daily e-cigarette use overall and by participant characteristics, state, and territory. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted, applying weights to account for population representation. This study included 414 755 BRFSS participants with information on e-cigarette use. More than half of participants were women (51.3%). In terms of race and ethnicity, 0.9% of participants were American Indian or Alaska Native, 5.8% were Asian, 11.5% were Black, 17.3% were Hispanic, 0.2% were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 62.2% were White, 1.4% were of multiple races or ethnicities, and 0.6% were of other race or ethnicity. Individuals aged 18 to 24 years comprised 12.4% of the study population. The age-standardized prevalence of current e-cigarette use was 6.9% (95% CI, 6.7%-7.1%), with almost half of participants using e-cigarettes daily (3.2% [95% CI, 3.1%-3.4%]). Among individuals aged 18 to 24 years, there was a consistently higher prevalence of e-cigarette use, with more than 18.6% reporting current use and more than 9.0% reporting daily use. Overall, among individuals reporting current e-cigarette use, 42.2% (95% CI, 40.7%-43.7%) indicated former combustible cigarette use, 37.1% (95% CI, 35.6%-38.6%) indicated current combustible cigarette use, and 20.7% (95% CI, 19.7%-21.8%) indicated never using combustible cigarettes. Although relatively older adults (aged ≥25 years) who reported current e-cigarette use were more likely to report former or current combustible cigarette use, younger adults (aged 18-24 years) were more likely to report never using combustible cigarettes. Notably, the proportion of individuals who reported current e-cigarette use and never using combustible cigarettes was higher in the group aged 18 to 20 years (71.5% [95% CI, 66.8%-75.7%]) compared with those aged 21 to 24 years (53.0% [95% CI, 49.8%-56.1%]). These findings suggest that e-cigarette use remained common during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among young adults aged 18 to 24 years (18.3% prevalence). Notably, 71.5% of individuals aged 18 to 20 years who reported current e-cigarette use had never used combustible cigarettes. These results underscore the rationale for the implementation and enforcement of public health policies tailored to young adults.

Prevalence of use, perceptions of harm and addictiveness, and dependence of electronic cigarettes among adults in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become one of the most common forms of nicotine delivery used by youth and young adults worldwide. Given the lack of epidemiologic data in Kuwait, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette use, assess perceptions of harm and addictiveness of e-cigarettes, measure the level of dependence on e-cigarettes and assess factors associated with dependence level among adults. A cross-sectional study enrolled adults (n=3032, aged ≥18 years) living in Kuwait using a web-based questionnaire. Participants self-reported ever and current (past 30-day) e-cigarette use and self-completed the 10-item Penn State E-cigarette Dependence Index. Associations were evaluated using multinomial logistic regression. The prevalence of ever and current e-cigarette use was estimated to be 40.2% (1220/3032) and 29.4% (892/3032), respectively. The prevalence of current e-cigarette use was higher in males compared to females (47.6% vs 14.4%, p<0.001). Relative to cigarette smoking, 40.6% of participants reported that e-cigarettes are less harmful, and 41.8% indicated that e-cigarettes are equally addictive. Among current e-cigarette users (n=892), 84.8% were ascertained to have developed either low, medium, or high dependence. The use of pod-based devices compared to disposable devices was associated with a high dependence level (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=8.56; 95% CI: 4.52-16.22). These findings suggest that a large proportion of adults in Kuwait use e-cigarettes, and a considerable proportion of current users have developed dependence. Therefore, such results should alert public health authorities and warrant the development of evidence-based awareness campaigns, policies, and prevention measures to protect and improve the health of people.

Psychosocial stressors and current e-cigarette use in the youth risk behavior survey

BackgroundThis study explores the association between psychosocial stressors and current e-cigarette use among adolescents in the United States.MethodsWe used data from 12,767 participants in the 2019 National Youth Risk Behavioral Survey to examine the association between psychosocial stressors (bullying, sexual assault, safety-related absence from school, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, physical altercation, and weapon threats) and past-30-day e-cigarette use using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. We examined the association for each stressor and then as a burden score (0–7). To compare the strength of the association between stressors and current e-cigarette use to current combustible cigarette use, we additionally examined the association between each stressor and current combustible cigarette use.ResultsApproximately 32.7% reported current e-cigarette use. The weighted prevalence of current e-cigarette use was higher among individuals who experienced stressors than those who did not. For example, bullying (43.9% vs. 29.0%). Similar prevalence patterns were seen among other stressors. Individuals who experienced stressors had significantly higher adjusted odds of current e-cigarette use than those who did not (OR [Odds Ratio] range: 1.47–1.75). Similarly, individuals with higher burden scores had a higher prevalence (zero [20.5%], one [32.8%], two [41.4%], three [49.6%], four to seven [60.9%]) and higher odds of current e-cigarette use (OR range: 1.43–2.73) than those with a score of zero. The strength of the association between the stressors and e-cigarette use was similar to that between the stressors and combustible cigarette use.ConclusionThe study demonstrates a significant association between psychosocial stressors and adolescent e-cigarette use, highlighting the potential importance of interventions, such as targeted school-based programs that address stressors and promote stress management, as possible means of reducing adolescent e-cigarette use. Future research directions include exploring underlying mechanisms linking stressors to e-cigarette use and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions addressing stressors in reducing adolescent e-cigarette use.

Examining Disparities in Current E-Cigarette Use among U.S. Adults before and after the WHO Declaration of the COVID-19 Pandemic in March 2020

This paper aims to estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette use before and after the COVID-19 pandemic declaration and to delineate disparities in use across subpopulations. Data were derived from the 2020 Health Information National Trends Survey (N = 3865) to conduct weighted multivariable logistic regression and marginal analyses. The overall prevalence of current e-cigarette use increased from 4.79% to 8.63% after the COVID-19 pandemic declaration. Furthermore, non-Hispanic Black people and Hispanic people had lower odds of current e-cigarette use than non-Hispanic White people, but no significant differences were observed between groups before the pandemic. Compared to heterosexual participants, sexual minority (SM) participants had higher odds of current e-cigarette use after the declaration, with insignificant differences before. People who had cardiovascular disease conditions, relative to those without, had higher odds of current e-cigarette use after the declaration, but no group differences were found before the declaration. The marginal analyses showed that before and after the pandemic declaration, SM individuals had a significantly higher probability of using e-cigarettes compared to heterosexual individuals. These findings suggest the importance of adopting a subpopulation approach to understand and develop initiatives to address substance use, such as e-cigarettes, during pandemics and other public health emergencies.

Assessment of Patterns in e-Cigarette Use Among Adults in the US, 2017-2020

Updated data on the patterns of e-cigarette use among adults in the US are needed. To examine recent patterns in current and daily e-cigarette use among US adults. This repeated cross-sectional study used data from the 2017, 2018, and 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a nationally representative state-based survey of noninstitutionalized US adults. A total of 994 307 adults 18 years and older who were living in states and territories that provided data on e-cigarette use in 2017 (53 states and territories), 2018 (36 states and Guam), and 2020 (42 states and Guam) were included. The weighted prevalence of current (past 30 days) and daily e-cigarette use was estimated for each year, and changes in prevalence from 2017 to 2020 were assessed, first overall and then stratified by participant characteristics, including state or territory of residence. Among 994 307 adults from states with data on e-cigarette use, 429 370 individuals (weighted 51.3% female) were participants in the 2017 survey, 280 184 (weighted 52.1% female) were participants in the 2018 survey, and 284 753 (weighted 52.1% female) were participants in the 2020 survey. The weighted proportions of young adults aged 18 to 24 years were 12.6% in 2017, 11.8% in 2018, and 11.9% in 2020. Across all 3 years, 17 035 participants (weighted, 1.0%) were American Indian or Alaska Native, 22 313 (weighted, 4.6%) were Asian, 75 780 (weighted, 12.2%) were Black, 72 190 (weighted, 15.1%) were Hispanic, 4817 (weighted, 0.2%) were Native Hawaiian, 757 140 (weighted, 65.1%) were White, 20 332 (weighted, 1.3%) were multiracial, and 6245 (weighted, 0.5%) were of other races and/or ethnicities. The prevalence of current e-cigarette use was 4.4% (95% CI, 4.3%-4.5%) in 2017, which increased to 5.5% (95% CI, 5.4%-5.7%) in 2018 and decreased slightly to 5.1% (95% CI, 4.9%-5.3%) in 2020. The recent decrease, though modest, was observed mainly among young adults aged 18 to 20 years (from 18.9% [95% CI, 17.2%-20.7%] to 15.6% [95% CI, 14.1%-17.1%]; P = .004). However, the prevalence of daily e-cigarette use increased consistently from 1.5% (95% CI, 1.4%-1.6%) in 2017 to 2.1% (95% CI, 2.0%-2.2%) in 2018 and 2.3% (95% CI, 2.2%-2.4%) in 2020. Among young adults aged 21 to 24 years, there was a slight, albeit insignificant, increase in the prevalence of current e-cigarette use (from 13.5% [95% CI, 12.3%-14.7%] to 14.5% [95% CI, 13.2%-15.9%]; P = .28) but a significant increase in the prevalence of daily e-cigarette use (from 4.4% [95% CI, 3.8%-5.1%] to 6.6% [95% CI, 5.6%-7.6%]; P < .001) between 2018 and 2020. State-level patterns in the prevalence of current e-cigarette use were heterogeneous, with states like Massachusetts (from 5.6% [95% CI, 4.8%-6.5%] to 4.1% [95% CI, 3.1%-5.3%]; P = .03) and New York (from 5.4% [95% CI, 4.9%-5.9%] to 4.1% [95% CI, 3.5%-4.7%]; P = .001) recording significant decreases between 2018 and 2020. In contrast, Guam (from 5.9% [95% CI, 4.5%-7.9%] to 11.4% [95% CI, 8.7%-14.8%]; P = .002) and Utah (from 6.1% [95% CI, 5.5%-6.7%] to 7.2% [95% CI, 6.5%-8.0%]; P = .02) recorded significant increases in current e-cigarette use over the same period. In this study, a slight decrease in the prevalence of current e-cigarette use was found between 2018 and 2020; this decrease was mainly observed among young adults aged 18 to 20 years. In contrast, daily e-cigarette use consistently increased, particularly among young adults aged 21 to 24 years. This increase in daily use suggests greater nicotine dependence among those who use e-cigarettes, warranting continued surveillance.

E-cigarette use among high school students in the United States prior to the COVID-19 pandemic: Trends, correlates, and sources of acquisition

Detailed description of the prevalence and sources of e-cigarettes among youth is needed to inform effective regulatory policies. We used the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data (2015–2019) to assess trends in current (past-30-day-use) and frequent (≥10 days in past-30-days) e-cigarette use among United States high schoolers before the COVID-19 pandemic. First, we assessed trends overall and then stratified by participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, use of other tobacco products, and experiences of psychosocial stress. We also evaluated past year quit attempts and the changing sources of e-cigarettes.Our sample size was 41,021 (15,356–2015; 12,873–2017; 12,792–2019). The prevalence of current e-cigarette use increased from 24.0% (95%CI:21.9%–26.3%) in 2015 to 32.7% (30.4%–35.1%) in 2019. The proportion of current users who reported frequent use also increased significantly from 22.6% (20.4%–24.8%) to 45.4% (42.7%–48.2%). Thus, an increasing proportion of US high school students who use e-cigarettes reported frequent use, indicating greater nicotine dependence. The increase in current and frequent e-cigarette use was more pronounced in youth who reported other substance use and psychosocial stressors such as bullying. Between 2017 and 2019, there was a decline in the proportion of youth who bought e-cigarettes online (6.9% to 3.2%) or from convenience stores (22.0% to 16.6%). Conversely, there was an increase in the proportion who borrowed (34.5% to 40.1%) or purchased e-cigarettes through other people (10.7% to 18.0%), indicating that most youth are evading age-related restrictions by obtaining e-cigarettes from other people. Finally, a considerable proportion of youth tobacco users are making quit attempts; 47.6% (45.1%–50.1%) in 2019.

Electronic cigarette use among adults in 14 countries: A cross-sectional study

SummaryBackgroundThe tobacco product landscape continues to change. No recent data for electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use have been reported for multiple countries based on nationally representative surveys. We examined prevalence of e-cigarette use and variations by sociodemographic characteristics in 14 countries using Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) data between Jan 1, 2015, and Dec 31, 2018.MethodsGATS is a nationally representative household survey of tobacco use among adults aged ≥15 years. The analytic sample size ranged from 4347 in Senegal to 74,037 in India. Prevalence of current e-cigarette use was stratified by sociodemographic subgroups. Age-standardized prevalence was estimated according to world 2000–2025 standard population. Significant differences in adjusted prevalence across sociodemographic subgroup was determined by p value for marginal effect contrast in multivariable logistic regression models.FindingsMore than 50% of adults in Russia, Romania, and Ukraine and additionally more than 30% of adults in China, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Mexico, and Philippines were aware of e-cigarettes. Crude prevalence of current e-cigarette use ranged from 0.02% (95% CI 0.01%–0.04%) in India to 3.5% (2.9%–4.2%) in Russia. Prevalence was <1% in nine countries. Approximately 18.3 million adults currently used e-cigarettes across the 14 countries. Men had a significantly higher prevalence of current e-cigarette use than women in eight countries. Additionally, higher adjusted prevalence was observed in some countries among young adults aged 15‒24 years, urban residents, and adults with higher education levels and higher wealth index.InterpretationThe study provides needed baseline data on e-cigarette awareness and use. Continued surveillance is essential to inform interventions and policies to prevent initiation and enhance cessation support.FundingNone.

Cessation of E-Cigarette Use Among Adults in Malaysia: Findings from a Nationwide Survey

Introduction The use of e-cigarettes has increased rapidly around the world including in Malaysia. However, a significant proportion of people who started using e-cigarettes later discontinued using them. The aim of this study is to identify prevalence of former e-cigarette use and factors associated with quitting, among Malaysian adults. Methods This study is a part of a national household survey examining the use of e-cigarettes among Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above in 2016. A multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used in the survey. A bilingual (Malay and English) structured questionnaire was used and data was collected via face-to-face interview. Prevalence of current e-cigarette use and former e-cigarette use were determined. A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with quitting e-cigarettes. Results A total of 4,288 adults participated in the survey, where 110 (3.2%) and 289 (8.6%) were identified as current and former e-cigarette users respectively. The following factors were significantly associated with quitting e-cigarette use: e-cigarette users who had no exposure to e-cigarettes at the workplace (aOR = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.39, 5.24); the perception that e-cigarette is more harmful to others compared to tobacco smoke (aOR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.22, 4.97); and the perception that e-cigarettes do not help people to maintain cigarette abstinence (aOR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.92). Conclusions This study contributes to a better understanding of the factors associated with cessation of e-cigarettes. Findings from this study can assist any e-cigarette cessation intervention measures.

Current e-cigarette use among in-school adolescents in West Malaysia: Examining the interactions between sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle risk behaviours.

BackgroundAdolescent e-cigarette use has increased dramatically. Most e-cigarette liquids contain nicotine, which can harm the developing adolescent brain. Local studies examining the risk factors of adolescent e-cigarette use and interactions between its risk factors are limited. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of current e-cigarette use and its associated factors among in-school adolescents in West Malaysia. We also examined the possible sociodemographic characteristic, lifestyle risk behaviour and parental factor interactions that affect the probability of current e-cigarette use.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2017. Respondents aged 13–18 years were included in the study. The data were analysed using STATA (v.15).ResultsThe prevalence of current e-cigarette use was 9.1%. Male gender, older age, Malay ethnicity, schooling in urban area, current smoking, current alcohol use, current drug use, having parents that are not married and living together and parental tobacco product use were significantly associated with current e-cigarette use. There were significant interactions between: i) gender with age, ethnicity, current smoking, current alcohol use and current drug use, ii) ethnicity with current smoking and current alcohol use, iii) locality with ethnicity, current smoking and current alcohol use, iv) current drug use with age, ethnicity, current smoking and current alcohol use, v) parental marital status with gender, age and ethnicity, and vi) parental tobacco use with ethnicity and current smoking.ConclusionOur findings identify significant associations between sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle risk behaviours and parental factors with current e-cigarette use. They also provide new insight into the interactions between these factors that affect the probability of current e-cigarette use among West Malaysian adolescents. Efforts to tackle e-cigarette use in Malaysian adolescents should target sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle risk behaviours and parental factors such as smoking cessation intervention for parents.

Predictors of electronic cigarette use and its association with respiratory health and obesity in young adulthood in Sweden; findings from the population-based birth cohort BAMSE

Despite the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) over the last decade, few epidemiological studies have examined the influence on respiratory health in young adulthood. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with e-cigarette use in young adulthood in Sweden, and to examine associations between e-cigarette use and lung function, respiratory symptoms, and obesity. This cross-sectional study included 3055 young adults from Sweden and used questionnaire and clinical data obtained at age 22–25 years. The prevalence of current e-cigarette use was 3.9% (n = 120). Few participants reported daily (0.4%) or exclusive (0.8%) use of e-cigarettes. In a multivariable adjusted logistic regression model, e-cigarette use was significantly associated with male gender (OR:3.2; 95% CI:1.5–6.7) and cigarette smoking (OR:14.7; 95% CI:5.5–39.0 for daily smoking). Prevalence of cough (15.0% vs. 8.5%) and mucus production (22.3% vs. 14.8%) was significantly higher among e-cigarette users compared to non-users, while no difference in lung function was observed. In addition, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was higher among e-cigarette users compared to non-users (36.7% vs. 22.3% with BMI≥25 kg/m2). In conclusion, cigarette smokers and males used e-cigarette more often compared to females and non-cigarette smokers. Attention should be given to respiratory symptoms among e-cigarette users, although our results may be explained by the concurrent use of conventional cigarettes, as the group of exclusive e-cigarette users were too small to allow firm conclusions.

State-specific prevalence of current e-cigarette use by disability status and disability type-United States, BRFSS 2016-2018.

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. The tobacco product landscape has diversified to include electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Adults with disabilities are more likely than adults without disabilities to smoke cigarettes, but within the current body of literature, there is limited information on the use of e-cigarettes among adults with disabilities. To assess overall and state-specific prevalence of current e-cigarette use among adults by disability status, disability type, sex, and age. Disability was defined as having serious difficulty with vision, hearing, mobility, cognition, or any difficulty with self-care or independent living. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System cross-sectional survey data (2016-2018; n=1,150,775) were used to estimate state and District of Columbia prevalence of current e-cigarette use among adults (aged ≥18 years) with and without disabilities, overall and by disability type, sex, and age group. Median prevalence of current e-cigarette use was higher among adults with than without disabilities (6.5% vs. 4.3%, P<0.05). Among adults with disabilities, use varied from 2.5% in DC to 10.0% in Colorado; median use was highest among those with cognitive disabilities (10.0%) and those aged 18-24 years (18.7%). Prevalence of current e-cigarette use was higher among adults with than without disabilities and varied across states by disability status, type, and age group. The findings underscore the need to monitor e-cigarette use among adults with disabilities and specifically include them in tobacco control policies and programs addressing e-cigarette use.

Use of E-Cigarettes and Associated Factors among Youth in Thailand.

Objective:The study explored e-cigarette use among youth and associated factors in Thailand. Methods:This was a cross sectional study of 6,045 seventh grade students selected using a multistage design. Self-administered questionnaires relating to the socio-demographic characteristics, history of cigarette and e-cigarette uses, friends’ and family’s use of e-cigarettes, knowledge and perception of e-cigarette use, history of alcohol uses, and life assets were gathered. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the variables and their association with e-cigarette use. Results:Prevalence of ever e-cigarette use was 7.2% and current e-cigarette use was 3.7%. We found that current cigarette smoking (AOR 4.28, 95% CI: 2.05-8.94), parental e-cigarette use (AOR 6.08, 95% CI: 2.81-13.17), peer e-cigarette use (AOR 3.82, 95% CI: 2.19-6.65), peer approval of smoking (AOR 1.95, 95% CI: 1.11-3.41), and unaware of e-cigarettes’ risk (AOR 5.25, 95% CI: 2.67-10.34). were significantly associated with current use of e-cigarettes. Male sex, poor academic achievement, and poor life assets (power of wisdom) were only significantly associated with ever e-cigarette use. Conclusion:Prevalence of current e-cigarette use among Thai middle school students did not change significantly since the government banned importation and sales of e-cigarettes in 2015, suggesting that the Thai ban has been a success. Factors associated with e-cigarette use among Thai youth were consistent with other countries. Ever e-cigarette use, increased, but less than in countries without a ban. To strengthen efforts to prevent youth from e-cigarette use and addiction, the government should improve law enforcement, especially against online marketing and strengthen school-based anti-smoking programs to include e-cigarette lessons, educating parents and the public about the harm of e-cigarettes, including secondhand effects on non-users.

High School Seniors Who Used E-Cigarettes May Have Otherwise Been Cigarette Smokers: Evidence From Monitoring the Future (United States, 2009–2018)

Abstract Introduction Studies have indicated that youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to progress to cigarette smoking; however, the likelihood that these youth would have used tobacco products in the pre-vaping era is unclear. Aims and Methods This study sought to determine whether youth who used e-cigarettes in 2014–2018 would have likely been smokers in the period preceding e-cigarette availability. Analyzing Monitoring the Future 12th grade data (United States, 2009–2018), we forecasted the prevalence of current smoking with logistic regression-derived propensity scores. Models predicted smoking for all subsequent years, incorporating sociodemographic, family, alcohol, and school-related variables, and a linear time trend. We compared forecasted to observed smoking prevalence annually, and prevalence of current e-cigarette use among nonsmokers across smoking propensity tertiles. Results Until 2014, observed smoking prevalence mirrored forecasted prevalence. Afterward, forecasted rates consistently overestimated prevalence. Among nonsmoking youth, e-cigarette use was lowest among those with lowest predicted probability of cigarette smoking (3.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.3, 4.4) and highest among those with highest probability (23.5%; 95% CI: 22.2, 24.9). Conclusions Youth e-cigarette use has increased rapidly, with high prevalence among nonsmoking youth. However, the decline in current smoking among 12th graders has accelerated since e-cigarettes have become available. E-cigarette use is largely concentrated among youth who share characteristics with smokers of the pre-vaping era, suggesting e-cigarettes may have replaced cigarette smoking. Implications Among nonsmoking youth, vaping is largely concentrated among those who would have likely smoked prior to the introduction of e-cigarettes, and the introduction of e-cigarettes has coincided with an acceleration in the decline in youth smoking rates. E-cigarettes may be an important tool for population-level harm reduction, even considering their impact on youth.

A Comparative Analysis of E-cigarette Users and State-Specific Prevalence Change in the United States Between 2017 and 2018.

IntroductionDespite states’ regulatory efforts, e-cigarettes are gaining popularity, which poses a public health concern. The study objective is to compare demographic and state prevalence changes in e-cigarette use from 2017 to 2018.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted using publicly available data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey (2017-2018). The prevalence of current e-cigarette use was analyzed with direct age-adjustment based on the 2010 United States Census population.ResultsThe overall use of e-cigarettes increased from 4.3% in 2017 to 5.4% in 2018. Although most demographics reported increased prevalence from 2017 to 2018, the most significant change was observed in younger adults (18-24), males, Hispanics, college graduates, non-smokers, marijuana non-users, and heavy alcoholics. Oklahoma (9.8%), Hawaii (7.8%), Arkansas (7.7%), and Colorado (7.3%) greater prevalence in 2018. Significant inclining prevalence was observed in Alaska, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, while Illinois reported a sharp decline. California, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico consistently reported the lowest prevalence. Idaho, Maine, Michigan, North Dakota, and Oregon are transitioning to a higher prevalence of e-cigarette use from 2017 to 2018.ConclusionThe rising prevalence of e-cigarettes across demographics warrants a holistic approach to behavioural change interventions, health awareness and education, and regulatory efforts.

Prevalence of tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke and knowledge on smoking cessation among students of health professions in Central Greece: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke among students of health professions (SHPs) and determine possible risk factors for...

A cross-sectional analysis of electronic cigarette use in US adults by asthma status.

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has been shown to worsen the asthma symptoms, but there is little information on current e-cigarette use patterns in the general US adult asthma population. We examined the unadjusted and adjusted estimates of current e-cigarette use in a nationally representative sample of US adults by asthma status and what factors influence this use. We determined the prevalence of current e-cigarette use in adults with and without asthma using the 2016-2018 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System datasets. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to obtain adjusted estimates of e-cigarette use by asthma status while also identifying which sociodemographic and clinical factors are associated with e-cigarette use in adults with asthma. Of the 23,071 adults with asthma in the study, 22.5% were currently using e-cigarettes. After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with asthma and current e-cigarette use, adults with asthma had similar odds of every day e-cigarette use (odds ratio (OR): 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93-1.15) but higher odds of e-cigarette use on some days (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.10-1.27) compared to adults without asthma. Younger age, male sex and former or current traditional cigarette use were significantly associated with both e-cigarette use on some days and every day in adults with asthma. Current e-cigarette use estimates among US adults with asthma indicate a need for further e-cigarette education and cessation interventions that are specifically tailored to sociodemographic and clinical groups who are especially prone to e-cigarette use within this population.

Temporal Trends in E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Adults: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2016 to 2018

BackgroundIt is important to study the trends of e-cigarette use among various subgroups to understand which populations may be more susceptible to increased use and, therefore, are at risk for potential long-term health effects. MethodsWe used cross-sectional data from the 2016-2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a nationally representative U.S. telephone-based survey of adults aged 18 years or older. The 2017 dataset also includes data from participant interviews that had been conducted in the year 2018. Current e-cigarette use was defined as use of e-cigarettes every day or on some days. We analyzed data using survey weights to ensure representativeness of the data to the US population. ResultsThe study population consisted of 936,319 individuals, of whom 28,917 were current e-cigarette users, and corresponded to 10.8 million U.S. adults. Thirty percent were aged between 18 and 34 years. Forty-nine percent were men; 63% were white, 12% black, and 17% Hispanic. The overall prevalence of current e-cigarette use increased from 4.3% in 2016 to 4.8% in 2018. E-cigarette use significantly increased among middle-aged adults (from 3.9% to 5.2%; P = .004), women (from 3.3% to 4.3%; P <.001), and former smokers (from 5.2% to 7.9%; P = .02), but decreased among current smokers (from 14.5% to 13.8%; P = .02). ConclusionsIn a nationally representative sample, we found important trends in e-cigarette use in a relatively short time frame. A significantly increasing prevalence of e-cigarette use was noted among middle-age adults, women, and former smokers. Our study provides important information about e-cigarette trends that can be used by clinicians when counselling patients and by regulatory agencies to develop public policies.

Use of Electronic Cigarettes in European Populations: A Narrative Review.

The increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes in past decades has aroused public health concern. This study aims to review the literature on the prevalence of e-cigarette use among the general adult and young populations in Europe. We searched Medline and Google Scholar from September 2019, and included “prevalence of e-cigarettes”, “electronic cigarettes” or “e-cigarettes”, and “electronic nicotine delivery system” or “vaping”. The prevalence of current e-cigarette use ranged from 0.2% to 27%, ever-use ranged from 5.5% to 56.6% and daily use ranged from 1% to 2.9%. Current smokers of conventional cigarettes showed the highest prevalence for the use of e-cigarettes, ranging from 20.4% to 83.1%, followed by ex-smokers, with ranges from 7% to 15%. The following socio-demographic factors were associated with a higher chance of using e-cigarettes: male sex and younger age groups; results for economic status were inconclusive. In European countries, there is a higher prevalence of e-cigarette use among males, adolescents and young adults, smokers of conventional cigarettes, and former smokers.