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Osman A, Petrescu GS, Tuculină MJ, Dascălu IT, Popescu C, Enescu AȘ, Dăguci C, Cucu AP, Nistor C, Carsote M. Metabolic and Other Endocrine Elements with Regard to Lifestyle Choices: Focus on E-Cigarettes. Metabolites 2023; 13:1192. [PMID: 38132874 PMCID: PMC10745117 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13121192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Our objective was to overview recent data on metabolic/endocrine disorders with respect to e-cigarette (e-cig) use. This is a narrative review; we researched English, full-length, original articles on PubMed (between January 2020 and August 2023) by using different keywords in the area of metabolic/endocrine issues. We only included original clinical studies (n = 22) and excluded case reports and experimental studies. 3 studies (N1 = 22,385; N2 = 600,046; N3 = 5101) addressed prediabetes risk; N1 showed a 1.57-fold increased risk of dual vs. never smokers, a higher risk that was not confirmed in N2 (based on self-reported assessments). Current non-smokers (N1) who were dual smokers still have an increased odd of prediabetes (a 1.27-fold risk increase). N3 and another 2 studies addressed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM): a lower prevalence of DM among dual users (3.3%) vs. cigarette smoking (5.9%) was identified. 6 studies investigated obesity profile (4 of them found positive correlations with e-cig use). One study (N4 = 373,781) showed that e-cig use was associated with obesity in the general population (OR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.3-2.1, p < 0.05); another (N5 = 7505, 0.82% were e-cig-only) showed that obesity had a higher prevalence in dual smokers (51%) vs. cig-only (41.2%, p < 0.05), while another (N6 = 3055) found that female (not male) e-cig smokers had higher body mass index vs. non-smokers. Data on metabolic syndrome (MS) are provided for dual smokers (n = 2): one case-control study found that female dual smokers had higher odds of MS than non-smokers. The need for awareness with respect to potential e-cig--associated medical issues should be part of modern medicine, including daily anamnesis. Whether the metabolic/endocrine frame is part of the general picture is yet to be determined. Surveillance protocols should help clinicians to easily access the medical background of one subject, including this specific matter of e-cig with/without conventional cigarettes smoking and other habits/lifestyle elements, especially when taking into consideration metabolism anomalies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Osman
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Department ENT & Clinical Emergency County Hospital of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania; (A.O.); (C.P.); (A.-Ș.E.)
| | - Gabriel Sebastian Petrescu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Mihaela Jana Tuculină
- Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Ionela Teodora Dascălu
- Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Cristina Popescu
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Department ENT & Clinical Emergency County Hospital of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania; (A.O.); (C.P.); (A.-Ș.E.)
| | - Anca-Ștefania Enescu
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Department ENT & Clinical Emergency County Hospital of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania; (A.O.); (C.P.); (A.-Ș.E.)
| | - Constantin Dăguci
- Department of Oro-Dental Prevention, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania;
| | - Anca-Pati Cucu
- PhD Doctoral School, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest & Thoracic Surgery Department, Dr. Carol Davila Central Military Emergency University Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Claudiu Nistor
- Department 4—Cardio-Thoracic Pathology, Thoracic Surgery II Discipline, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy & Thoracic Surgery Department, Dr. Carol Davila Central Military Emergency University Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Mara Carsote
- Department of Endocrinology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania & C.I. Parhon National Institute of Endocrinology, 011863 Bucharest, Romania;
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Upadhyay S, Rahman M, Johanson G, Palmberg L, Ganguly K. Heated Tobacco Products: Insights into Composition and Toxicity. TOXICS 2023; 11:667. [PMID: 37624172 PMCID: PMC10459283 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11080667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are novel products that allow users to inhale nicotine by heating (350 °C) reconstituted tobacco rather than combustion (900 °C) as in conventional cigarettes. HTP sticks containing reconstituted tobacco come in various flavours such as menthol, citrus, etc., like electronic cigarette liquids. Thus, the composition of HTP aerosol will also vary according to the flavouring agents added. Overall, the content of toxic chemicals in HTP aerosol appears to be lower than in cigarette smoke. However, the concentrations of more than twenty harmful and potentially harmful constituents have been reported to be higher in HTP aerosol than in cigarette smoke. Further, several toxic compounds not detected in cigarette smoke are also reported in HTP aerosol. Thus, the risks of HTP use remain unknown. Most of the available data on the composition and health effects of mainstream HTP aerosol exposure are generated by the tobacco industry. Few independent studies have reported short-term pathophysiological effects of HTP use. Currently available HTP toxicity data are mainly on the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems. Moreover, there are no long-term toxicity data and, therefore, the claims of the tobacco industry regarding HTPs as a safer alternative to traditional combustible cigarettes are unsubstantiated. Furthermore, HTP aerosol contains the highly addictive substance nicotine, which is harmful to the adolescent brain, developing foetuses, pregnant women, and also adults. Hence, comprehensive studies addressing the safety profiling related to long-term HTP use are warranted. With this background, the following review summarizes the current state of knowledge on HTP toxicity on four broad lines: composition of mainstream HTP aerosol compared to traditional combustible cigarette smoke, biomarkers of HTP exposure, health effects of HTP exposure, and the harm reduction aspect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swapna Upadhyay
- Unit of Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.R.); (G.J.); (L.P.)
| | | | | | | | - Koustav Ganguly
- Unit of Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (M.R.); (G.J.); (L.P.)
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Zettergren A, Sompa S, Palmberg L, Ljungman P, Pershagen G, Andersson N, Lindh C, Georgelis A, Kull I, Melen E, Ekström S, Bergstrom A. Assessing tobacco use in Swedish young adults from self-report and urinary cotinine: a validation study using the BAMSE birth cohort. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e072582. [PMID: 37438074 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studies on health effects of tobacco often rely on self-reported exposure data, which is subjective and can lead to misclassification. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of cigarette smoking, snus and e-cigarette use, as well as to validate self-reported tobacco use among young adults in Sweden. METHOD Participants of a population-based Swedish cohort (n=3052), aged 22-25 years, assessed their tobacco use in a web questionnaire. Urinary cotinine was analysed in a subsample of the study population (n=998). The agreement between self-reported tobacco use and urinary cotinine was assessed using Cohen's Kappa coefficient (κ) at a cut-off level of 50 ng/mL. RESULTS Patterns of tobacco use differed between men and women. Among men, 20.0% reported daily snus use, 5.8% daily cigarette smoking and 5.6% any e-cigarette use. In contrast, 3.2% of the women reported daily snus use, 9.0% daily cigarette smoking and 2.4% any e-cigarette use. Among the tobacco use categories, daily snus users had the highest levels of cotinine. Of reported non-tobacco users, 3.5% had cotinine levels above the cut-off, compared with 68.0% among both occasional cigarette smokers and snus users, 67.5% among all e-cigarette users and 94.7% and 97.8% among daily cigarette smokers and snus users, respectively. Agreement between self-reported tobacco use and urinary cotinine was classified as strong for daily use of cigarettes (κ=0.824) and snus (κ=0.861), while moderate to weak for occasional smoking (κ=0.618), occasional snus use (κ=0.573) and any e-cigarette use (κ=0.576). CONCLUSIONS We found high validity of self-reported tobacco use in our study population, particularly for daily tobacco use. Further, we found that daily snus users were exposed to high levels of cotinine. Together with previous findings, our results indicate good validity of self-reported tobacco use among young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Zettergren
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shanzina Sompa
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lena Palmberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petter Ljungman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran Pershagen
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Niklas Andersson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Antonios Georgelis
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Inger Kull
- Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset AB, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Melen
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset AB, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sandra Ekström
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Bergstrom
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
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Kim J, Lee S, Chun J. An International Systematic Review of Prevalence, Risk, and Protective Factors Associated with Young People's E-Cigarette Use. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11570. [PMID: 36141845 PMCID: PMC9517489 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
While the prevalence of young people's conventional cigarette use has decreased in many countries, the use of e-cigarettes has risen. To effectively counteract the growing popularity of e-cigarettes among young people internationally, researchers should know the exact prevalence as well as the protective and risk factors associated with vaping. Based on five eligibility criteria, 53 articles were chosen and analyzed by general characteristics, prevalence, sample characteristics, gender difference, protective factors, and risk factors. In this study, the international pooled prevalence of young people's lifetime e-cigarette use was 15.3%, the current use was 7.7%, and dual use was 4.0%. While the highest lifetime, current, and dual prevalence were found in Sweden, Canada, and the United Kingdom, respectively, the lowest prevalence was found in Germany, followed by South Korea and Sweden. Some protective and risk factors include perceived cost and danger of vaping, parental monitoring, internal developmental assets, cigarette use, family and peer smoking, exposure to online advertisements, and the presence of nearby retail stores. Based on this review, researchers and practitioners can develop different intervention programs and strategies for young smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - JongSerl Chun
- Department of Social Welfare, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Korea
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Sompa SI, Zettergren A, Ekström S, Upadhyay S, Ganguly K, Georgelis A, Ljungman P, Pershagen G, Kull I, Melén E, Palmberg L, Bergström A. 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. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 208:112760. [PMID: 35065933 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Zettergren
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sandra Ekström
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Swapna Upadhyay
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Koustav Ganguly
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonios Georgelis
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petter Ljungman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Cardiology, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran Pershagen
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Inger Kull
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Melén
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lena Palmberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Bergström
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
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How E-cigarettes and vaping can affect asthma in children and adolescents. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2022; 22:86-94. [PMID: 35197429 DOI: 10.1097/aci.0000000000000807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Electronic nicotine delivery systems such as e-cigarettes are commonly felt to be harmless devices when compared to traditional cigarettes. However, an increasing number of studies support the biological plausibility for the potential detrimental effects of vaping on the respiratory mucosa. To date, few human studies have been carried out on adult vapers showing a reduction in lung function testing, especially in those with asthma, whereas the effects of vaping on children and adolescents have not been elucidated so far. RECENT FINDINGS Several cross-sectional, national, population-based studies on large groups of adolescents have been carried out showing an association between vape exposure and self-reported asthma diagnosis and/or respiratory symptoms in this age group. The effects of second and third-hand exposure together with those of active and passive exposure in pregnancy, are almost completely unknown. SUMMARY This review outlines recent data on the potential effects of vaping on asthma, focusing on vape composition, reported effects on the respiratory mucosa, available data in adolescents, and reasons behind the current vaping epidemic. The evidence so far available both in animals and humans suggests that vaping is not harmless, and its exposure should be limited in children and adolescents, especially when affected by asthma.
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Kotoulas SC, Katsaounou P, Riha R, Grigoriou I, Papakosta D, Spyratos D, Porpodis K, Domvri K, Pataka A. Electronic Cigarettes and Asthma: What Do We Know So Far? J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11080723. [PMID: 34442368 PMCID: PMC8399607 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11080723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Electronic cigarettes (EC) are a novel product, marketed as an alternative to tobacco cigarette. Its effects on human health have not been investigated widely yet, especially in specific populations such as patients with asthma. With this review, we use the existing literature in order to answer four crucial questions concerning: (1) ECs' role in the pathogenesis of asthma; (2) ECs' effects on lung function and airway inflammation in patients with asthma; (3) ECs' effects on asthma clinical characteristics in asthmatics who use it regularly; and (4) ECs' effectiveness as a smoking cessation tool in these patients. Evidence suggests that many EC compounds might contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma. Lung function seems to deteriorate by the use of EC in this population, while airway inflammation alters, with the aggravation of T-helper-type-2 (Th2) inflammation being the most prominent but not the exclusive effect. EC also seems to worsen asthma symptoms and the rate and severity of exacerbations in asthmatics who are current vapers, whilst evidence suggests that its effectiveness as a smoking cessation tool might be limited. Asthmatic patients should avoid using EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serafeim-Chrysovalantis Kotoulas
- Clinic of Respiratory Failure, General Hospital of Thessaloniki Georgios Papanikolaou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.G.); (A.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-6977-705450
| | - Paraskevi Katsaounou
- 1st ICU “Evangelismos Hospital”, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Ypsilantou 45-47, 10676 Athens, Greece;
| | - Renata Riha
- Sleep Research Unit, Department of Sleep Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK;
| | - Ioanna Grigoriou
- Clinic of Respiratory Failure, General Hospital of Thessaloniki Georgios Papanikolaou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.G.); (A.P.)
| | - Despoina Papakosta
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki “Georgios Papanikolaou”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.P.); (D.S.); (K.P.); (K.D.)
| | - Dionysios Spyratos
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki “Georgios Papanikolaou”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.P.); (D.S.); (K.P.); (K.D.)
| | - Konstantinos Porpodis
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki “Georgios Papanikolaou”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.P.); (D.S.); (K.P.); (K.D.)
| | - Kalliopi Domvri
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki “Georgios Papanikolaou”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.P.); (D.S.); (K.P.); (K.D.)
| | - Athanasia Pataka
- Clinic of Respiratory Failure, General Hospital of Thessaloniki Georgios Papanikolaou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Leoforos Papanikolaou, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.G.); (A.P.)
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Bartholomew R, Kerry-Barnard S, Beckley-Hoelscher N, Phillips R, Reid F, Fleming C, Lesniewska A, Yoward F, Oakeshott P. Alcohol use, cigarette smoking, vaping and number of sexual partners: A cross-sectional study of sexually active, ethnically diverse, inner city adolescents. Health Expect 2021; 24:1009-1014. [PMID: 33774898 PMCID: PMC8235897 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Context There are few UK data on the prevalence and clustering of risky behaviours in ethnically diverse adolescents. Objectives To investigate the prevalence of reported alcohol use, smoking and vaping, and explore whether these behaviours are associated with increased numbers of sexual partners. Design Questionnaire survey of ‘Test n Treat’ chlamydia screening trial participants. Setting and participants Sexually active students attending six London technical colleges completed confidential questionnaires and provided genitourinary samples. Results The median age of the 509 participants was 17 years (IQR: 16‐18), 47% were male, 50% were of black ethnicity, 55% reported ≥2 sexual partners in the past year (67% of males and 45% of females) and 6.2% had chlamydia infection and 0.6% gonorrhoea. Almost half (48%) reported getting drunk in the past month, 33% smoked cigarettes and 7% had ever vaped. A larger percentage of students with ≥2 sexual partners than 0‐1 partners reported getting drunk in the past month (53.7%, 144/268% versus 42.2% 94/223, adjusted prevalence ratio: 1.33, 95% confidence interval: 1.11‐1.61) and smoking cigarettes (36.6%, 100/273% versus 30.2%, 67/222, 1.34 (1.05‐1.70)). By contrast, multiple sexual partners were not associated with vaping or chlamydia infection, but numbers were small. Conclusions We found high prevalences of risky behaviour and an association between multiple sexual partners and smoking and/or getting drunk. Findings support the introduction of compulsory sex and relationship education in UK secondary schools, including information about the adverse effects of alcohol and smoking. Public contribution Participants helped with study design, conduct and interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalie Bartholomew
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Kerry-Barnard
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Rachel Phillips
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Fiona Reid
- School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Fleming
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Agata Lesniewska
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Freya Yoward
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Pippa Oakeshott
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
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