Longitudinal transitions of exclusive and polytobacco electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use among youth, young adults and adults in the USA: findings from the PATH Study Waves 1-3 (2013-2016)

Most commonly used vaping brands by 18-25 year old young adults in Texas-Spring 2023

PURPOSE

We aimed to determine (1) the most commonly used brands of electronic vaping products (EVPs) by young adults in Texas during Spring 2023, and (2) if brand preferences differ by sociodemographic characteristics, current cigarette smoking, and current cannabis vaping.

METHOD

Participants were 2,491 18-25-year-olds (Mean age = 20.6; 62.9% female; 29.7% sexual gender minority; 35.9% non-Hispanic White, 45.0% Hispanic/Latino, 3.5% non-Hispanic Black, 11.6% non-Hispanic Asian, and 4.0% two or more races or another race/ethnicity) enrolled in 21 Texas colleges during February-March 2023 who used EVPs in the past 30-days.

RESULTS

Esco Bar was the most popular EVP brand (32.5%), followed by Elf Bar (19%), Vuse (10.1%), and all other brands were used by < 10% of participants. Nearly 20% of participants reported not having a usual brand. Participants who used Esco Bar, Elf Bar, and Puff Bar were younger (i.e., 18-20 years old), female, and Hispanic/Latino. Vuse, JUUL, and Smok were used by participants who were older (i.e., 21-25 years old), male, non-Hispanic white, used EVPs daily, and currently smoked cigarettes.

CONCLUSION

The present study extends prior research by providing contemporary data on young adult EVP brand preferences in Texas during Spring 2023. Many of the brands commonly used by young adults (e.g., Esco Bar, Elf Bar) are not currently authorized for marketing or sale by the Food and Drug Administration. Findings underscore a need for additional enforcement efforts that prohibit the distribution and sale of these products to, in turn, prevent EVP use among young adults.

National longitudinal tobacco product cessation rates among US adults from the PATH Study: 2013-2019 (waves 1-5)

OBJECTIVE

To report on longitudinal tobacco product cessation rates, by product type, among adults (ages 18+ years) in the USA between 2013 and 2019.

METHODS

The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study was used to report on annual and biennial rates of the following three cessation behaviours across 2013-2019: (1) discontinuing tobacco product use (ie, transition from past 30-day use to no past 30-day use), (2) attempting to quit tobacco product use and (3) quitting tobacco product use among those who attempted to quit. Each cessation behaviour was evaluated separately for cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), cigars, hookah and smokeless tobacco. Generalised estimating equations were used to evaluate linear and nonlinear trends in cessation rates across the study period.

RESULTS

Between 2013 and 2019, rates of discontinuing cigarette smoking among adults in the USA statistically increased from 16% to 18%, though these were consistently lower than rates of discontinuing use of other tobacco products. Similarly, quit attempt rates and rates of quitting among attempters increased for cigarette smokers. However, rates of discontinuing ENDS use sharply declined across the study period, from 62% to 44%.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings show that tobacco product cessation rates have been changing in recent years in the USA alongside the changing tobacco product marketplace and regulatory environment, though rates of discontinuing cigarette smoking remain relatively low. Findings can serve as a benchmark against which future cessation rates can be compared to evaluate the impacts of future tobacco regulatory policies.

Adult smokers' Complete Switching Away from Cigarettes at 6, 9, and 12 Months after Initially Purchasing a JUUL e-Cigarette

Background: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have the potential to benefit public health if smokers completely switch from cigarettes to ENDS. Methods: A cohort of adult smokers (age ≥ 21) who purchased a JUUL Starter Kit was followed for 12 months after the initial purchase. We defined "switching" as past-30-day abstinence from smoking (even if JUUL use had stopped), and analyzed factors associated with achievement and maintenance of self-reported repeated point-prevalence switching (RPPS) at three follow-ups, i.e., no past-30-day smoking at months 6, 9, and 12. Results: RPPS was reported by 21.6% of the 12,537 evaluable smokers. Smokers with lighter smoking history and lower cigarette dependence at baseline were more likely to report RPPS. RPPS was also associated with daily use of JUUL (Month-3: OR = 2.32, 95% CI = 2.02-2.68; Month-6: OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.42-2.10), and with greater subjective reinforcing effects from JUUL use (assessed by the mCEQ, Month-3: OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.38-1.56; Month-6: OR = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.02-1.20). Even among smokers who did not meet the criteria of RPPS (i.e., who smoked at least once), 35.5% reported past 30-day point-prevalence switching on at least one follow-up, and their cigarette consumption was substantially reduced compared to baseline. Conclusions: Approximately one-fifth of adult smokers reported 30-day point-prevalence abstinence at 6, 9, and 12 months after purchasing JUUL. Greater use of JUUL and stronger subjective reinforcing effects were associated with nonsmoking, validating the potential for ENDS to substitute for smoking, with potential for positive impacts on individual and population health.

Mechanisms of E-Cigarette Vape-Induced Epithelial Cell Damage

E-cigarette use has been reported to affect cell viability, induce DNA damage, and modulate an inflammatory response resulting in negative health consequences. Most studies focus on oral and lung disease associated with e-cigarette use. However, tissue damage can be found in the cardio-vascular system and even the bladder. While the levels of carcinogenic compounds found in e-cigarette aerosols are lower than those in conventional cigarette smoke, the toxicants generated by the heat of the vaping device may include probable human carcinogens. Furthermore, nicotine, although not a carcinogen, can be metabolized to nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are known carcinogens and have been shown to be present in the saliva of e-cig users, demonstrating the health risk of e-cigarette vaping. E-cig vape can induce DNA adducts, promoting oxidative stress and DNA damage and NF-kB-driven inflammation. Together, these processes increase the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This creates a microenvironment thought to play a key role in tumorigenesis, although it is too early to know the long-term effects of vaping. This review considers different aspects of e-cigarette-induced cellular changes, including the generation of reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, DNA repair, inflammation, and the possible tumorigenic effects.

Multiple Tobacco Product Use Among Youth E-Cigarette Users: National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2020

PURPOSE

Limited information exists on multiple tobacco product use, particularly among youth. This study assessed the prevalence of current youth use of e-cigarettes with other tobacco products and their associated characteristics using 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey data.

METHODS

Prevalence estimates were calculated for current e-cigarette users, by multiple tobacco product use status and product combination. Demographic characteristics, e-cigarette use behaviors, age at first combustible tobacco use, and tobacco dependence symptoms were compared between current users of both e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco (dual users) and current exclusive e-cigarette users.

RESULTS

In 2020, 61.1% of all current e-cigarette users reported exclusive e-cigarette use, and 38.9% used e-cigarettes with other tobacco products. Among those who used e-cigarettes with other tobacco products, 85.0% used combustible tobacco, with cigarettes being the most commonly used other tobacco product. Compared with current exclusive e-cigarette users, higher proportions of dual users reported the following: frequent e-cigarette use; obtaining e-cigarettes from gas stations, persons other than a family member/friend, vape shops, or the internet; and having any tobacco dependence symptoms. Among dual users, 31.2% reported first combustible product use after e-cigarette initiation, and 34.3% reported first combustible product use prior to e-cigarette initiation.

DISCUSSION

Approximately four in 10 youth current e-cigarette users reported using multiple tobacco products, with a majority using combustible tobacco. Frequent e-cigarette use and tobacco dependence symptoms were more prevalent among dual users of e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco.

Implications of nicotine vaping products for tobacco control in ASEAN low-income and middle-income countries: in-depth interviews with experts from the region

OBJECTIVES

The use of nicotine vaping products (NVPs) has increased in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region; however, it is uncertain what implications the presence and use of NVPs have for tobacco control.

DESIGN

In-depth interviews were conducted to explore ASEAN tobacco control experts' (n=11) views on the rise of NVP use in ASEAN LMICs, current NVP policies, the potential harm reduction and smoking cessation utilities of these devices, and what implications they may have for tobacco control. Data were analysed using inductive, reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Five themes emerged: (1) NVPs threaten tobacco control in ASEAN LMICs; (2) commercial factors influence youth appeal and access: product attributes, marketing, supply chains; (3) opposition to the smoking cessation and harm reduction utilities of NVPs; (4) policies are inconsistent and fragmented in the region; and (5) tobacco industry power and tactics have been used to capture NVP markets.

CONCLUSIONS

ASEAN tobacco control experts believe that NVPs pose a threat to youth and non-smokers in LMICs in the region, largely because of tobacco industry NVP marketing activities. They do not support the use of NVPs for smoking cessation or harm reduction and call for more restrictions and consistent policy enforcement across the region to protect young people, while also cautiously recognising that use of NVPs may have some benefits for smokers.

Longitudinal Assessment of Association Between Tobacco Use and Tobacco Dependence Among Adults: Latent Class Analysis of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study Waves 1-4

INTRODUCTION

With increasing tobacco product varieties, understanding tobacco use (TU) profiles and their associations with tobacco dependence (TD) has also become increasingly challenging.

AIMS AND METHODS

We aimed to identify TU profiles and their associations with TD over time, and to identify subgroups with high risk of TD. We included 3463 adult recent tobacco users who had complete TU and TD data across waves 1-4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. We used a composite index of TD and a summed TD score from an established 16-item TD measure. We applied a latent class analysis to identify TU profiles based on participants' usage of eight common tobacco product groups at each survey wave and to check the stability of the TU profiles over time. We then used generalized estimating equations regressions to evaluate the longitudinal TU-TD association, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

We identified three distinct TU profiles that remained consistent across four survey waves: Dominant cigarette users (62%-68%), poly users with high propensity of using traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cigars (24%-31%), and dominant smokeless product users (7%-9%). Covariate-adjusted models showed that TD was significantly lower among the poly users and the dominant smokeless users, compared to that among the dominant cigarette users.

CONCLUSIONS

Both TU profiles and their associations with TD were stable over time at the population level. Poly users and smokeless product users were consistently associated with lower TD than cigarette-dominant users, suggesting the need for tailored tobacco cessation interventions for users with different TU profiles.

IMPLICATIONS

The finding of consistent TU profiles across four survey waves extends the current literature in capturing TU patterns in an evolving tobacco product landscape. The finding of the overall higher level of TD among the cigarette-dominant users compared to the other TU latent profiles (the Cig+eCig+Cigar dominant poly users and the dominant smokeless product users) can help identify high-risk groups for potential interventions. Our application of innovative statistical methods to high-quality longitudinal data from the PATH study helps improve the understanding of the dynamic TU-TD relationship over time.

Longitudinal transitions in e-cigarette and cigarette use among US adults: prospective cohort study

Background

To support tobacco control efforts, this study sought to characterize longitudinal transitions in use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and cigarettes.

Methods

Participants were nationally representative samples of 53,729 US adults from Waves 3-5 (2015-2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. We examined behavioral transitions (initiation, relapse, progression, and cessation) in ENDS and cigarette use across waves. Weighted generalized estimating equation models adjusted for sociodemographic variables.

Findings

Of never ENDS users at baseline, an estimated 1.7% reported initiating ENDS use by follow-up. Of former ENDS users, an estimated 12.1% relapsed into ENDS use. Of periodic ENDS users at baseline, 13% progressed to established ENDS use. Of baseline current ENDS users, 46.3% discontinued ENDS use. The corresponding transitions for cigarette smoking were 1.6% (initiation), 4.8% (relapse), 21.1% (progression), and 14% (discontinuation). Adults aged 18-24 (vs. older age), Hispanics (vs. non-Hispanic white), and past 12-month cannabis users were more likely to initiate ENDS or cigarettes (all p < 0.05). Having any internalizing mental health symptoms increased the odds of ENDS initiation, while externalizing symptoms increased the odds of cigarette initiation. Those who perceived nicotine as very harmful (vs. none/low harm) were more likely to discontinue ENDS. Current cigarette users (vs. non-users) at baseline were more likely to initiate, relapse, or discontinue ENDS (all p < 0.05) and vice versa.

Interpretation

We observed high changeability in ENDS and cigarette use among US adults over time. In absolute terms, ENDS use grew, while smoking fell. Tobacco control programs should focus on priority populations, including young adults and people with internalizing and externalizing mental health symptoms.

Funding

National Institutes of Health, R01-CA246606-01A1, R01-DA048390.

National longitudinal tobacco product discontinuation rates among US youth from the PATH Study: 2013-2019 (waves 1-5)

OBJECTIVE

Determine longitudinal tobacco product discontinuation rates among youth (ages 12-17 years) in the USA between 2013 and 2019.

METHODS

The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study, was used to determine annual/biennial rates of tobacco product discontinuation behaviours among youth across 2013-2019: (1) discontinuing product use (transition from past 30-day use to no past 30-day use), (2) attempting to quit product use and (3) discontinuing product use among those who attempted to quit. Discontinuing use was evaluated separately for cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), cigars, hookah, smokeless tobacco and any tobacco. Attempting to quit and discontinuing use among those who attempted were each evaluated for cigarettes and ENDS. Generalised estimating equations were used to evaluate linear and non-linear trends in rates across the study period.

RESULTS

Between 2013 and 2019, biennial rates of discontinuing tobacco product use among youth increased for cigarettes from 29% to 40%, increased for smokeless tobacco from 39% to 60%, and decreased for ENDS from 53% to 27%. By 2018/2019, rates of discontinuing use among attempters were 30% for those who used ENDS and 30% for those who smoked cigarettes.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings show decreasing rates of discontinuing ENDS use among youth in the USA alongside the changing ENDS marketplace and increasing rates of discontinuing cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use. Findings will serve as benchmarks against which future tobacco product discontinuation rates can be compared with evaluating impacts of subsequent tobacco regulatory policies, ENDS product development and public education campaigns.

The interactive effects of JUUL flavor and nicotine concentration on addiction potential

Prior research suggests that flavors can influence the pharmacological effects of nicotine. We used commercially available JUUL pods to examine whether preferred menthol versus tobacco flavor increased the addictive potential of nicotine per se. This study recruited 15 regular JUUL e-cigarette users to complete a 2 × 2 factorial crossover trial using an entirely remote video format. Participants completed a sampling baseline session to identify preferred JUUL flavor (menthol vs. tobacco) followed by four counterbalanced experimental sessions separated by ≥ 48 hr: (a) low-nicotine dose (3% JUUL)/nonpreferred flavor; (b) low dose/preferred flavor; (c) high-nicotine dose (5% JUUL)/nonpreferred flavor; and (d) high dose/preferred flavor. In each experimental session, participants completed a puffing procedure followed by subjective ratings of e-cigarette liking and wanting (ELW), urges, and reinforcement using a JUUL pod purchase task. There was a dose-by-flavor interaction for average ELW (F = 4.58, p = .041) in which ELW was significantly greater for the preferred than the nonpreferred flavor at the low-nicotine dose but not the high-nicotine dose. There were also dose-by-flavor interactions for pre- to post-puffing change in overall urge to vape (F = 5.97, p = .021) and urge strength (F = 4.96, p = .049), with greater reductions in overall urge/strength for the preferred compared to the nonpreferred flavor at the low but not the high dose. We found no significant interaction effects for purchase task outcomes. Using a fully remote experimental puffing procedure, our findings suggest preferred flavors increase the rewarding effects most for lower nicotine e-cigarettes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Predictors of Discontinued E-Cigarette Use at One-Year Follow-Up in a Sample of Young Adults

BACKGROUND

Currently, the research on factors associated with young adults' discontinuation of e-cigarette use behavior is limited. This study tested the predictors of self-reported e-cigarette abstinence at one-year follow-up among young adult baseline current e-cigarette users. The following variables were tested as predictors: demographics, cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use dependence, e-cigarette use duration, harm perceptions, and preferred aspects of e-cigarette use, including sensations, flavor, and device characteristics.

METHODS

Data were provided at two time-points one year apart by 435 ethnically diverse young adults (M age = 22.3, SD = 3.1; 63% women) who reported current e-cigarette use at baseline.

RESULTS

Approximately 42% of those who reported current e-cigarette use at baseline (i.e., 184 out of 435 participants) reported discontinuation of e-cigarette use at one-year follow-up. Results indicated that higher e-cigarette dependence, longer history of e-cigarette use, lower e-cigarette harm perceptions, greater preference for both menthol and sweet flavors, for open-pod-based devices, and for e-cigarette use sensations such as buzz, taste and smell of flavors, and throat hit at baseline were associated with lower likelihood of e-cigarette use discontinuation at one-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Characteristics associated with nicotine (e.g., dependence) and flavors (e.g., taste and smell) appear to drive the continuation/discontinuation of e-cigarette use among young adults. Thus, cessation strategies may need to be developed with a focus on dependence and harm perceptions related to nicotine and flavors. Furthermore, better regulating open-pod-based devices and sweet-menthol flavors may help e-cigarette use prevention.

Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of Dependence Measures for Exclusive Electronic Cigarette Users

INTRODUCTION

Extant electronic cigarette (ECIG) dependence measures are largely adapted from those designed for cigarette smoking, though few have been evaluated for their psychometric properties.

AIMS AND METHODS

Never-smoking ECIG users (N = 134) participating in an online survey completed four dependence measures: Penn state electronic cigarette dependence index (PSECDI), e-cigarette dependence scale (EDS-4), diagnostic and statistical manual for tobacco use disorder (DSM-5), and Glover Nilsson behavioral questionnaire (GNBQ). They also reported on their ECIG use characteristics (eg, behaviors and reasons).

RESULTS

Internal consistency was highest for the EDS-4 (Cronbach's α = 0.88) followed by the GNBQ (α = 0.75), PSECDI (α = 0.72), and DSM (α = 0.71). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a single-factor structure for the PSECDI, EDS-4, and GNBQ. For the DSM-5, however, two items did not load significantly (ECIG use interferes with responsibilities; reduce/give up activities because of ECIG use). Significant correlations were observed between all measures and the number of ECIG use days/week and/or years using ECIGs, as well as between DSM-5 scores and the number of ECIG quit attempts and initiation age. Endorsement of using ECIGs because "I like flavors" was correlated positively with DSM-5 and GNBQ scores.

CONCLUSIONS

All dependence measures evaluated herein demonstrated adequate reliability and construct validity. Future work should focus on determining which aspects of dependence are those that are unique to ECIG use, and subsequently developing a more comprehensive measure of ECIG dependence.

IMPLICATIONS

The measures assessed herein-PSECDI, EDS-4, DSM-5, and GNBQ-demonstrated adequate to good reliability and construct validity among a sample of never-smoking ECIG users. The dependence domains covered across measures were related yet distinct. Findings demonstrate the need for future evaluation of these different domains to determine which are the most salient characteristics of ECIG dependence.

Predictors of E-cigarette and Cigarette Use Trajectory Classes from Early Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood Across Four Years (2013-2017) of the PATH Study

INTRODUCTION

This study examines predictors of trajectories of cigarette and e-cigarette use among a cohort of US adolescents transitioning into young adulthood. Comparing trajectories of each tobacco product is important to determine if different intervention targets are needed to prevent progression to daily use.

METHODS

Latent trajectory class analyses identified cigarette and e-cigarette use (never, ever excluding past 12-month, past 12-month (excluding past 30-day (P30D)), P30D 1-5 days, P30D 6+ days) trajectory classes, separately, among US youth (12-17; N = 10,086) using the first 4 waves (2013-2017) of data from the nationally representative PATH Study. Weighted descriptive analyses described the class characteristics. Weighted multinomial logistic regression analyses examined demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral predictors of class membership.

RESULTS

Younger adolescents 12-15 years had lower tobacco use compared to 16-17 year olds and less stable classes. In the 16-17 year group, there were five unique trajectories of cigarette smoking, including a Persistent High Frequency class. Four e-cigarette use trajectories were identified; but not a persistent use class. Shared predictors of class membership for cigarettes and e-cigarettes included mental health problems, other tobacco use, marijuana use, and poorer academic achievement. Male sex and household tobacco use were unique e-cigarette trajectory class predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no evidence that initiation with e-cigarettes as the first product tried was associated with cigarette progression (nor cigarettes as first product and e-cigarette progression). Interventions should focus on well-established risk factors such as mental health and other substance use to prevent progression of use for both tobacco products.

IMPLICATIONS

Using nationally representative data and definitions of use that take into account frequency and recency of use, longitudinal 4-year trajectories of e-cigarette and cigarette use among US adolescents transitioning into young adulthood were identified. Results among 16-17-year olds revealed a class of persistent high frequency cigarette smoking that was not identified for e-cigarette use. Cigarette use progression was not associated with e-cigarettes as the first product tried. Risk factors for progression of use of both products included mental health and other substance use, which are important prevention targets for both tobacco products.

The Roswell eND scale: Brief, valid assessment of nicotine dependence adults seeking to discontinue e-cigarette use

BACKGROUND

Most adults who regularly use e-cigarettes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) desire to discontinue use. ENDS use can result symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and dependence which can make it more difficult to discontinue use. Brief, valid assessment of nicotine dependence among adults who use ENDS is needed to guide treatment for nicotine dependence in this group. We sought to develop a brief, valid instrument to measure nicotine dependence among adults seeking to discontinue ENDS in a busy Quitline.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional design, we examined content, construct, and concurrent validity of the Roswell ENDS Nicotine Dependence Scale (Roswell eND Scale) and the Penn State E-Cigarette Dependence Index (Penn State eCDI). Participants who called the New York Quitline from November 2019 to June 2020 seeking to discontinue ENDS use were invited to participate. Construct validity was examined with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Instrument and factor scores were then correlated with cotinine, a biomarker of nicotine exposure.

RESULTS

All participants (n = 209) were highly dependent and co-used combustible cigarettes to varying degrees. Both instruments demonstrated content validity and construct validity, however only the 5-item Roswell eND Scale demonstrated criterion-related validity by showing a significant positive correlation with salivary cotinine levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The 5-item Roswell eND Scale can briefly and effectively assess nicotine dependence among treatment-seeking adults who co-use ENDS and cigarettes. These preliminary psychometric findings have the potential to be generalizable to other adults seeking to discontinue ENDS use, many of whom currently or formerly smoked cigarettes.

Longitudinal Transition Patterns of Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults Never Tobacco Product Users: Findings From the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, 2014-2019

Aims

To identify, visualize, and describe the prevalence of within-product patterns of tobacco use behaviors for e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and hookah (TP) by 3 age groups (ie, 12-14-year-old, 15-17-year-old, and 18-20-year-old) with U.S. nationally representative data.

Methods

In 2014-2015, never users of each (TP) and age group were followed-up longitudinally between 2015-2019 using five transition states: non-susceptible to (TP) use, susceptible to (TP) use, ever (TP) use, past 30-day (TP) use, and discontinued past 30-day (TP) use. Sankey diagrams were used to graphically visualize patterns in tobacco use behaviors across time.

Results

Among 12-14-year-old who were never users and susceptible to each TP from 2014-2017, 7% initiated ever e-cigarette use and 9.4% first reported past 30-day use by 2018-2019; 5.8% initiated ever cigarette use and 3% first reported past 30-day cigarette use by 2018-2019; and, 4.5% initiated ever hookah use and 1.0% first reported past 30-day hookah use by 2018-2019. Among 15-17-year-old who were never users and susceptible to each TP from 2014-2017, 4.2% initiated ever e-cigarette use and 9.0% first reported past 30-day use by 2018-2019; 4.5% initiated ever cigarette use and 3% first reported past 30-day cigarette use by 2018-2019; and, 4.5% initiated ever hookah use and 2.4% first reported past 30-day hookah use by 2018-2019. Among 18-20-year-old who were never users and susceptible to each TP from 2014-2017, 3.2% initiated ever e-cigarette use and 3.6% first reported past 30-day e-cigarette use by 2018-2019; 3.0% initiated ever cigarette use and 2.3% first reported past 30-day cigarette use; and, 2.8% initiated ever hookah use and 1.0% first reported past 30-day hookah use by 2018-2019.

Conclusions

From 2014 to 2019, onset and progression of e-cigarette, cigarette, and hookah use occurred more frequently in 12-14 and 15-17-year-old than in young adults 18-20-year-old.

Socio-temporal contextual and community factors associated with daily exclusive ENDS use and dual use with tobacco cigarettes among adolescent vapers: an ecological momentary assessment study

BACKGROUND

Adolescents who dual use ENDS with tobacco cigarettes are more likely to have an increased risk of developing dependence. Yet, little is understood about the factors driving dual use among adolescents. The current study sought to reveal the day-to-day socio-temporal contextual and community factors associated with adolescents' use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and how these factors predict dual use with tobacco cigarettes.

METHODS

We collected ecological momentary assessments (EMA) from a sample of 50 adolescent past two-week vapers (ages 14-17 years old) over 14 days. Daily EMA data were collected on ENDS and tobacco cigarette use, as well as a range of contextual (i.e., motivations to vape, location of vaping, who with when vaping) and community factors (i.e., exposure to peers vaping, to adults vaping, to ENDS advertising, to ENDS warning messages). Our primary analyses were multilevel regressions, accounting for daily observations nested within individuals (N = 700 observations).

RESULTS

Participants used ENDS exclusively on 44% of days and dual used ENDS and tobacco cigarettes on 8% of the days. Dual use days (versus exclusive ENDS use days) were associated with "vaping because tobacco use was prohibited" (OR = 34.65, p < .05). Also, dual use days (versus no use days) were associated with greater exposure to adults vaping (OR = 5.59, p < .05), peers vaping (OR = 7.48, p < .05), and (c) ENDS advertisements or promotions (OR = 2.12, p < .01), whereas exclusive use days (versus no use days) were only associated with greater exposure to peers vaping (OR = 2.58, p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Results showed that exposure to peers and adults vaping and exposure to ENDS marketing were associated with same day dual use behaviors. And, that adolescents who dual used were motivated to use ENDS because they were easy to conceal. Findings support stricter regulation of ENDS marketing and for smoke-free air laws that include ENDS. In addition, these findings support prioritizing family- and school-based prevention programming that effectively communicates risk associated with ENDS use, including heightened risk of dual use and dependence. Such efforts can reduce the number of adolescents who use ENDS as well as the number who transition to tobacco cigarette use.

Identifying changes in e-cigarette use among a longitudinal sample of Canadian youth e-cigarette users in the COMPASS cohort study, 2017/18-2018/19

•

Those who use e-cigarettes may increase, decrease, or keep the same frequency of use.

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Half of current youth e-cigarette users increased their frequency of use.

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One third of current youth e-cigarette users decreased their frequency of use.

•

E-cigarette use patterns differed by gender and ethnicity.

Objectives

There are few studies describing longitudinal changes in vaping patterns among current youth e-cigarette users. The objective of this study was to identify-one-year changes in e-cigarette use patterns among a longitudinal sample of Canadian youth e-cigarette users between 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Methods

The longitudinal sample included n = 4,071 current (past 30-day) e-cigarette users in grades 9–11 attending schools in four Canadian provinces. Students reported the number of days they used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days in 2017/18 and 2018/19. Based on responses, students could have escalated, reduced, stopped, or maintained their level of vaping. The prevalence of each e-cigarette use pattern was identified across demographic characteristics and regression models identified significant predictors of each use pattern.

Results

Over one year, 49.2% of current youth e-cigarette users escalated, 12.8% reduced, 20.2% stopped, and 17.8% maintained their frequency of e-cigarette use. Baseline e-cigarette use frequencies varied according to use pattern. Current youth e-cigarette users with higher baseline vaping frequencies had lower odds of escalating and stopping e-cigarette use and higher odds of reducing e-cigarette use relative to maintaining the same frequency of use.

Conclusions

While about half of current youth e-cigarette users increased their frequency of e-cigarette use over a 1-year period, a significant number also decreased or stopped vaping at a time when the prevalence of youth e-cigarette use increased rapidly in Canada. There is a need for longitudinal data to monitor and evaluate changes to e-cigarette use patterns that may be in response to changing public health policies.

The Impact of Current Tobacco Product Use Definitions on Estimates of Transitions Between Cigarette and ENDS Use

INTRODUCTION

Definitions of current tobacco and nicotine delivery product use vary and depend on frequency of use, established-use criteria, and the product type. Previous research has not considered how transition rates between current use of different products depend on the current use definition.

AIMS AND METHODS

We applied a multistate transition model to data on U.S. adults from waves 1-4 (2013-2017) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. We estimated transition rates between never, non-current, cigarette, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and dual use states with and without established-use criteria (has smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lifetime; ever fairly regularly used ENDS) and different frequency thresholds (1+, 10+, 20+, and 30 days of the past 30 days). We considered use below a frequency threshold as either non-current use or a distinct, infrequent use category.

RESULTS

When treating use below a frequency threshold as non-current use, transition probability estimates were largely robust to the choice of use frequency threshold, although sole ENDS users were more likely to transition to non-current use or dual use as the current use threshold increased. Removing the established-use criterion for ENDS reduced the estimates of sole ENDS and dual users staying in their use state. When treating infrequent use as a separate category, transition probability estimates were dependent on the use frequency threshold, particularly transitions among the dual use states.

CONCLUSIONS

Product use definitions have important implications for assessing product use transitions and thus the public health implications of cigarette and ENDS control strategies.

IMPLICATIONS

How we define "current use" of tobacco and nicotine delivery products changes our estimates of how individuals transition to, between, and from different patterns of use. We show that the robustness of transition estimates to whether or not non-established users are included as current users and to different frequency-of-use threshold depends in part on whether low-frequency users are categorized as non-current users or as a distinct category. Our results emphasize the importance of intentional definitions of product use that reflect the larger goals of public health and tobacco control.

Oral Nicotine Product Awareness and Use Among People Who Smoke and Vape in the U.S

INTRODUCTION

Tobacco-free oral nicotine products are an emerging class of noncombustible nicotine products. Oral nicotine product sales have increased since 2016, although little research has investigated consumer awareness, use, or correlates of oral nicotine product use. The purpose of this analysis was to assess the prevalence and correlates of oral nicotine product awareness and use.

METHODS

This paper is a cross-sectional analysis of 2,507 U.S. participants from Wave 3 (February-June 2020) of the International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey, a population-based survey of current and former cigarette smokers and nicotine vaping product users in the U.S. Oral nicotine product awareness and use prevalence were compared with those of heated tobacco products. Analyses conducted in late 2021 assessed the correlates of oral nicotine product awareness and use such as demographic characteristics, tobacco use (cigarettes, nicotine vaping products, smokeless tobacco), and tobacco quit attempts.

RESULTS

Almost 1 in 5 respondents claimed to have heard of oral nicotine products, 3.0% reported ever use, and 0.9% were current users, all of which were lower than for heated tobacco products. Ever use of oral nicotine products was more common among younger adults (e.g., aged 18-24 years), males, and current users of smokeless tobacco. Oral nicotine product prevalence was higher among those who reported having made attempts to stop smoking or vaping.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral nicotine product use was low among current and former smokers and nicotine vaping product users. Oral nicotine product users were demographically similar to use among individuals who smoke/vape and also use smokeless tobacco. Future studies are needed to understand emerging oral nicotine products, particularly whether they are being used as product supplements (dual use), replacements (switching), or cessation aids (quitting).

Longitudinal associations between flavored tobacco use and tobacco product cessation in a national sample of adults

Use of flavored tobacco has been associated with lower likelihood of short-term abstinence from tobacco. It is unknown whether longer-term associations exist, particularly for a variety of products and specific flavor categories. This study used adult survey data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study (2013-2018). We tested associations of past 30-day tobacco product use at wave 2 using both a 2-category any flavor versus unflavored variable and 4-category specific flavor (menthol/mint, sweet, and both menthol/mint and sweet) versus unflavored variable with past 12-month cessation from the same product two years later at wave 4. Separate models were run for each product (combustible cigarettes, cigars, hookah, e-cigarettes, and smokeless), adjusting for wave 1 sociodemographic characteristics. For all five products, past 30-day use of any flavored (versus unflavored) product at wave 2 was associated with reduced likelihood of same-product cessation at wave 4. Most specific flavor categories were associated with reduced odds of same-product cessation across all products. Any flavor use was also associated with reduced likelihood of longer-term cessation (i.e., past 24-months at both waves 3 and 4) and cessation from all five tobacco products in several analyses. Exploratory moderation results indicated that the association between e-cigarette flavor use and lower likelihood of cessation was stronger for young adults (18-24) versus older adults (25+). Current use of flavored tobacco products is associated with lower likelihood of product cessation. Flavored tobacco products warrant consideration in regulatory policy to reduce the adverse public health impact of tobacco use.

The health and economic impact of the Tobacco 21 Law in El Paso County, Texas: A modeling study

In December 2019, the US federal Tobacco 21 (T21) law passed to raise the minimum legal purchase age for tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. Preliminary evidence suggests that the T21 law will restrict youth access to tobacco products, leading to decreases in tobacco use over their lifetime. This study expands the science through the use of systems modeling by linking decreases in youth tobacco use in El Paso County, Texas, due to the T21 law implementation, to potential cardiovascular health (CVH) benefits and health care cost reductions. Using a smoking behavior and cardiovascular disease agent-based model, we projected the T21 law's long-term effects on smoking prevalence and CVH outcomes in El Paso County, Texas. The estimated smoking prevalence in El Paso County, Texas, decreased by 2.7% among 18-24 year olds and by 5.2% among 25-44 year olds in 20 years with T21 law implementation (p < 0.01 for both population groups). By reducing tobacco use, the T21 law could prevent 5.4 coronary heart disease events per 1,000 adults and 6.1 S events per 1,000 adults over a lifetime. The model estimated a reduction in lifetime health care costs from $42,929 per person without T21 law to $41,985 per person with the policy. This study provides further evidence for policymakers and communities to understand the potential health and economic impacts of the federal T21 law at the local level. Results emphasize the need for comprehensive policy implementation and enforcement to produce its intended impact on health outcomes.

Association of device type, flavours and vaping behaviour with tobacco product transitions among adult electronic cigarette users in the USA

BACKGROUND

Few studies assess whether electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) device characteristics or flavours impact longitudinal patterns of cigarette and e-cigarette use.

DESIGN

We examined data from waves 2-4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (2014-2018). Among adult (≥18 years) current e-cigarette users at wave 2 who were current smokers (dual users; n=1759) and former smokers (exclusive e-cigarette users; n=470), we classified participants into four use patterns at wave 3 (~12 months later) and wave 4 (~24 months later): (1) dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes; (2) exclusive cigarette smoking; (3) exclusive e-cigarette use; (4) non-use of both products. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess correlates of changing use patterns at 24 months, relative to no change, adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

At 24 months, 26.5% of baseline exclusive e-cigarette users, and 9% of baseline dual users, abstained from both vaping and smoking. Participants who vaped non-tobacco flavours (vs tobacco flavours), and used refillable tank or modifiable devices (vs disposable, cartridges and other devices) were less likely to transition to non-use of both products and to exclusive cigarette smoking. Baseline daily vaping (vs non-daily) was positively associated with exclusive e-cigarette use at 24 months for baseline daily cigarette smokers, but negatively associated with exclusive e-cigarette use and non-use of both products at 24 months for baseline non-daily smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-tobacco flavours, daily vaping and modifiable e-cigarette devices may help some smokers abstain from cigarette smoking via transitioning to exclusive e-cigarette use, but are also associated with ongoing exclusive e-cigarette use.

Changes in the Patterns and Characteristics of Youth ENDS Use over Time

Research on youth use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has explored the correlates of initiation and use; however, little is known about the factors that predict continued youth use of ENDS. We used an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) burst design to explore both daily variability within adolescents over a two-week observation period and variability over time two years later (2018 and 2020). The contribution of device characteristics, motivations for use, contextual factors, and community factors to daily use occasions were explored. Youth participants (n = 35) at the start of the study were past two-week nicotine vapers, 14 to 17 years old, who resided within 100 miles of Louisville, KY, and reported past two-week ENDS use. Close to a quarter of participants ceased all tobacco use two years later, suggesting that some youth, despite prior regular vaping habits, may have only been experimenting with ENDS. The regular continued use of ENDS was predicted by trying to quit using cigarettes, appealing flavors, and being in locations where cigarette use was prohibited. Except for flavors, these factors did not affect ENDS use in year one. These findings suggest that tobacco policy might target ENDS use by prohibiting all tobacco use, including ENDS, in locations where smoking is already banned.

Changes in cigarette and e-cigarette use among US young adults from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic: News exposure and risk perceptions as potential predictors

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 impacted cigarette and e-cigarette use behaviors among some individuals. This study examined COVID-19 factors and prior substance use as predictors of cigarette and e-cigarette cessation and initiation among US young adults from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We analyzed data from Wave 3 (Sept-Dec 2019) and Wave 5 (Sept-Dec 2020) of a 2-year, 5-wave longitudinal study of young adults across six US metropolitan areas. We examined COVID-19 news exposure, perceived smoking and e-cigarette use risk, and prior substance use, as predictors of cigarette and e-cigarette cessation and initiation, respectively.

RESULTS

Of W3 cigarette users (n=516), 37.8% (n=195) quit cigarettes at W5; predictors of cessation included younger age, fewer days of W3 past-month cigarette use, and no W3 e-cigarette use. Of W3 e-cigarette users (n=687), 38.7% (n=266) quit e-cigarettes at W5; predictors included greater COVID-19 news exposure, fewer days of W3 past-month e-cigarette use, and no W3 cigarette use. Of W3 cigarette non-users (n=1693), 5.0% (n=85) initiated cigarettes at W5; predictors of initiation included younger age, lower perceived smoking risk, lifetime cigarette and e-cigarette use, and W3 e-cigarette use. Of W3 e-cigarette non-users (n=1522), 6.3% (n=96) initiated e-cigarettes at W5; predictors included younger age, less news exposure, lifetime cigarette and e-cigarette use, and W3 cigarette use.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the need to address cigarette and e-cigarette co-use and related risk perceptions in prevention and cessation interventions.

Patterns and Trends in Use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Before and During Pregnancy: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, United States, 2016-2019

INTRODUCTION

This study used 2016-2019 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data to estimate prevalence of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use around pregnancy, changes in ENDS use and cigarette smoking from before to during pregnancy, and trends in these behaviors over time.

METHODS

ENDS and cigarette use during the 3 months before and the last three months of pregnancy were measured. Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for outcomes overall and ENDS use by maternal characteristic for 2016-2019; logistic regression tested for differences in ENDS use by maternal characteristic and for linear trends in ENDS and cigarette use before and during pregnancy. Analyses were completed in 2021.

RESULTS

In 2019, 4.3% (N = 98,050) of women used ENDS before and 1.3% (N = 28,811) used ENDS during pregnancy. Most exclusive ENDS users (82.2%) and exclusive cigarette smokers (55.0%) stopped use during pregnancy. Among dual users, 46.3% stopped use during pregnancy while 20.2% continued dual use and 24.9% smoked cigarettes exclusively. Few dual users (8.6%) and exclusive cigarette smokers (0.5%) reported using ENDS exclusively during pregnancy. From 2016-2019, exclusive ENDS use increased and exclusive cigarette smoking decreased both before and during pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

ENDS use during pregnancy is low but increased since 2016. Less than one-half of dual ENDS and cigarettes users quit during pregnancy; few dual users or exclusive cigarette smokers switched to exclusive ENDS use during pregnancy. Continued surveillance of ENDS and other tobacco use during pregnancy is critical to inform public health activities that protect maternal and child health.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems use predicts transitions in cigarette smoking among young adults

BACKGROUND

Although cigarette smoking during young adulthood is characterized by volatility, few studies examine if use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) impacts transitions in cigarette use behaviors across this developmental period. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the role of ENDS use on three transitions in cigarette smoking among young adults; initiation, desistance, and re-uptake.

METHODS

Participants were 5029 18-29-year-olds (64.2% female) enrolled in one of 24 Texas colleges at baseline and involved in an eight-wave, 4.5-year study. A multi-state, continuous time Markov model was used to assess the role of current/past 30-day and ever ENDS use on three transitions, spanning at least six months 1) never to current smoking (initiation); 2) current to non-current smoking (desistance); and 3) non-current to current smoking (re-uptake). The model also contained time-invariant socio-demographic, and time-varying intrapersonal (other tobacco use, nicotine dependence, sensation seeking, depressive symptoms) and interpersonal (peer cigarette use) covariates.

RESULTS

Both current and ever ENDS use increased the probability of transitioning from never to current cigarette use (initiation) and decreased the probability of transitioning from current to non-current use (desistance). Current, but not ever, ENDS use also increased the probability of transitioning from non-current to current use (re-uptake). Adjustment for socio-demographic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal covariates did not alter these findings.

DISCUSSION

ENDS use in young adulthood increases the risk for cigarette smoking behaviors across the continuum of uptake and progression. Prevention and cessation efforts targeting both ENDS and cigarette use during young adulthood are needed.

Identifying Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Brands and Flavors on Instagram: Natural Language Processing Analysis

Background

Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) brands, such as JUUL, used social media as a key component of their marketing strategy, which led to massive sales growth from 2015 to 2018. During this time, ENDS use rapidly increased among youths and young adults, with flavored products being particularly popular among these groups.

Objective

The aim of our study is to develop a named entity recognition (NER) model to identify potential emerging vaping brands and flavors from Instagram post text. NER is a natural language processing task for identifying specific types of words (entities) in text based on the characteristics of the entity and surrounding words.

Methods

NER models were trained on a labeled data set of 2272 Instagram posts coded for ENDS brands and flavors. We compared three types of NER models—conditional random fields, a residual convolutional neural network, and a fine-tuned distilled bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (FTDB) network—to identify brands and flavors in Instagram posts with key model outcomes of precision, recall, and F1 scores. We used data from Nielsen scanner sales and Wikipedia to create benchmark dictionaries to determine whether brands from established ENDS brand and flavor lists were mentioned in the Instagram posts in our sample. To prevent overfitting, we performed 5-fold cross-validation and reported the mean and SD of the model validation metrics across the folds.

Results

For brands, the residual convolutional neural network exhibited the highest mean precision (0.797, SD 0.084), and the FTDB exhibited the highest mean recall (0.869, SD 0.103). For flavors, the FTDB exhibited both the highest mean precision (0.860, SD 0.055) and recall (0.801, SD 0.091). All NER models outperformed the benchmark brand and flavor dictionary look-ups on mean precision, recall, and F1. Comparing between the benchmark brand lists, the larger Wikipedia list outperformed the Nielsen list in both precision and recall.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that NER models correctly identified ENDS brands and flavors in Instagram posts at rates competitive with, or better than, others in the published literature. Brands identified during manual annotation showed little overlap with those in Nielsen scanner data, suggesting that NER models may capture emerging brands with limited sales and distribution. NER models address the challenges of manual brand identification and can be used to support future infodemiology and infoveillance studies. Brands identified on social media should be cross-validated with Nielsen and other data sources to differentiate emerging brands that have become established from those with limited sales and distribution.

Single, Dual, and Triple Use of Cigarettes, e-Cigarettes, and Snus among Adolescents in the Nordic Countries

New tobacco and nicotine products have emerged on the market in recent years. Most research has concerned only one product at a time, usually e-cigarettes, while little is known about the multiple use of tobacco and nicotine products among adolescents. We examined single, dual, and triple use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and snus among Nordic adolescents, using data of 15-16-year-olds (n = 16,125) from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) collected in 2015 and 2019 from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands. Country-specific lifetime use of any of these products ranged between 40% and 50%, and current use between 17% and 31%. Cigarettes were the most common product in all countries except for Iceland, where e-cigarettes were remarkably more common. The proportion of dual and triple users was unexpectedly high among both experimental (24%-49%) and current users (31-42%). Triple use was less common than dual use. The users' patterns varied somewhat between the countries, and Iceland differed substantially from the other countries, with a high proportion of single e-cigarette users. More knowledge on the patterns of multiple use of tobacco and nicotine products and on the potential risk and protective factors is needed for targeted intervention and prevention efforts.

Cue Reactivity to Electronic Cigarettes: A Systematic Review

Cue reactivity to Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) has been studied by several researchers, yet the variability in user types (smokers, former smokers, dual users, exclusive ENDS users) and ENDS designs used between the studies may have undermined consistent results. This systematic review aims to give an overview of ENDS cue reactivity and how smoking status and device design may moderate this. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Web of Science, PubMed and Cochrane was completed. All studies which reported findings on reactivity to ENDS cues in the form of craving or desire for ENDS or cigarettes, attention to cue, delay of gratification or economic decisions were included. Exclusion criteria were non-human subjects, non-adult participants or participants with comorbidities. Literature selection was carried out by 2 independent reviewers. The risk of bias and study quality were assessed using tools developed by Cochrane, BMJ and NHLBI. A total of 711 papers were screened and 22 studies were included in the current review. Study design, research question(s), population of interest, number of participants, dependent variable(s), ENDS generation and nicotine content used and study results were extracted. ENDS cues reliably induced ENDS craving, with no clear moderation by smoking status and no apparent moderation by device generation. In about half of the studies, ENDS cues induced craving for conventional cigarettes. Most studies used a smoker sample, thus limiting the conclusions that can be drawn on the moderation of cue reactivity by smoking status. The quality varied among studies but comparing the findings against the outcomes of only high-quality studies did not yield any different results. The results of this review support the notion of cue reactivity to ENDS, identifies gaps in current research on different user types and implies that ENDS design iterations have little impact on cue reactivity.

Rising vape pod popularity disrupted declining use of electronic nicotine delivery systems among young adults in Texas, USA from 2014 to 2019

AIMS

To examine the longitudinal trajectory of young Texan (US) adults' electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use from 2014 to 2019, and to determine if there are changes in the trajectory among younger and older young adults post-2017, when vape pods surged in popularity in the United States.

DESIGN

Nine-wave longitudinal study, with 6 months between each of the first eight waves and 1 year between the last two waves. Discontinuous, or piecewise, growth curve models were used to test the hypotheses that (a) the overall current/past 30-day ENDS use trajectory would decline from 2014 to spring 2017 but then increase from fall 2017 to 2019, and (b) the increasing trajectory from 2017 to 2019 would occur only for younger participants, but not older participants. All models included socio-demographic covariates of sex, race/ethnicity, type of college attended at baseline (2- or 4-year) and time-varying age.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 5218 students (aged 18-25 years at baseline; 63.7% female) from 24 colleges in the five counties surrounding Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, Texas, USA.

MEASUREMENTS

Participants completed on-line surveys regarding past 30-day ENDS use at all nine waves.

FINDINGS

Current ENDS use significantly declined from 2014 to spring 2017 [odds ratio (OR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.59-0.68], and then significantly increased from autumn 2017 to 2019 (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.01-1.29). Further examination indicated the increase in current ENDS use from autumn 2017 to 2019 occurred only for younger [-1 standard deviation (SD) below the mean age, 22.6 years old], but not older (+1 SD above the mean age, 26.2 years old), participants.

CONCLUSION

The surge in the popularity of vape pods in the United States in late 2017 may have contributed to increasing use of electronic nicotine delivery systems among younger young adults (below 22.6 years) from late 2017 to 2019.

Age of e-cigarette initiation in USA young adults: Findings from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study (2013-2017)

INTRODUCTION

There is a lack of research prospectively estimating the age of e-cigarette initiation in U.S. young adults.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of PATH young adults across 2013-2017 (waves 1-4) were conducted. We prospectively estimated age of initiation of: ever, past 30-day, and fairly regular e-cigarette use using weighted interval-censoring survival analyses. Interval-censoring Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, and previous use of six other tobacco products (cigarettes, traditional cigars, filtered cigars, cigarillos, hookah, and smokeless tobacco) were fitted for each of the three e-cigarette initiation outcomes.

RESULTS

Among never e-cigarette users, by age 21, 16.8% reported ever use, 7.2% reported past 30-day use, and 2.3% reported fairly regular e-cigarette use. Males had increased risk of initiating ever, past 30-day, and fairly regular e-cigarette use at earlier ages compared to females. Hispanic young adults had increased risk of initiating ever and past 30-day e-cigarette use at earlier ages compared to Non-Hispanic White young adults. Previous use of other tobacco products before e-cigarette initiation increased the risk of an earlier age of e-cigarette initiation.

CONCLUSION

Prevention and education campaigns should focus on young adults in order to alleviate the public health burden of initiating e-cigarette use at earlier ages.

Assessment of Exclusive, Dual, and Polytobacco E-Cigarette Use and COVID-19 Outcomes Among College Students

Purpose

This study examined current (past 30-day) dual- and polytobacco use patterns and COVID-19 symptomatology, testing, and diagnosis status among college student electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) users.

Design

Cross-sectional online questionnaire administered during October–December 2020.

Setting

Four large, U.S. public universities in geographically diverse locations.

Sample

College students (N=756) ages 18–24 who reported current e-cigarette use.

Measures

Current use of e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes, and cigars, and self-reported COVID-19 symptomatology, testing, and diagnosis status were measured.

Analysis

Multivariable logistic regression models accounting for students’ demographics, university site, fraternity/sorority membership, and current residence.

Results

Over half (53.6%) of students were exclusive e-cigarette users, 20.4% were dual e-cigarette and combustible cigarette users, 4.6% were dual e-cigarette and cigar users, and 21.4% were poly users of e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes, and cigars. Compared to exclusive e-cigarette users, dual users of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes (AOR=2.12, 95%CI=1.05–4.27) and poly users of e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes, and cigars (AOR=3.70, 95%CI=1.78–7.70) had increased odds of COVID-19 symptomatology, even when accounting for covariates. While current tobacco use groups did not differ based on COVID-19 testing, polytobacco users had significantly increased odds (AOR=2.16, 95%CI=1.11–4.20) of having received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

Conclusion

Given use of two or more tobacco products increased COVID-19-related risks, results underscore the need to prevent dual- and polytobacco use behaviors in college student e-cigarette users.

Latent class analysis of use frequencies for multiple tobacco products in US adults

A persistent challenge is characterizing patterns of tobacco use in terms of product combinations and frequency. Using Wave 4 (2016-17) Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study adult data, we conducted latent class analyses (LCA) of past 30-day frequency of use for 9 tobacco products. One-step LCA with joint multinomial logistic regression models compared sociodemographic factors between users (n = 13,716) and non-users (n = 17,457), and between latent classes of users. We accounted for survey design and weights. Our analyses identified 6 classes: in addition to non-users (C0: 75.7%), we found 5 distinct latent classes of users: daily exclusive cigarette users (C1: 15.5%); occasional cigarette and polytobacco users (C2: 3.8%); frequent e-product and occasional cigarette users (C3: 2.2%); daily smokeless tobacco (SLT) and infrequent cigarette users (C4: 2.0%); and occasional cigar users (C5: 0.8%). Compared to C1: C2 and C3 had higher odds of being male (versus female), younger (especially 18-24 versus 55 years), and having higher education; C2 had higher, while C3 and C4 had lower, odds of being a racial/ethnic minority (versus Non-Hispanic White); C4 and C5 had much higher odds of being male (versus female) and heterosexual (versus sexual minority) and having higher income; and C5 had higher odds of college or more education. We identified three classes of daily or frequent users of a primary product (cigarettes, SLT or e-products) and two classes of occasional users (cigarettes, cigars and polytobacco). Sociodemographic differences in class membership may influence tobacco-related health disparities associated with specific patterns of use.

Longitudinal Impact of Depressive Symptoms and Peer Tobacco Use on the Number of Tobacco Products Used by Young Adults

We examined the role of depressive symptoms in the longitudinal trajectory of the number of tobacco products used across young adulthood, ages 18–30 years, and whether peer tobacco use exacerbated the effects of the depressive symptoms. Participants were 4534 initially 18–25-year-old young adults in the Marketing and Promotions Across Colleges in Texas project (Project M-PACT), which collected data across a 4.5-year period from 2014 to 2019. Growth curve modeling within an accelerated design was used to test study hypotheses. Elevated depressive symptoms were associated with a greater number of tobacco products used concurrently and at least six months later. The number of tobacco-using peers moderated the association between depressive symptoms and the number of tobacco products trajectory. Young adults with elevated depressive symptoms used a greater number of tobacco products but only when they had a greater number of tobacco-using peers. Findings indicate that not all young adults with depressive symptoms use tobacco. Having a greater number of tobacco-using peers may facilitate a context that both models and encourages tobacco use. Therefore, tobacco prevention programs should aim to include peer components, especially for young adults.

Pilot Ecological Momentary Assessment Study of Subjective and Contextual Factors Surrounding E-Cigarette and Combustible Tobacco Product Use among Young Adults

Background: Dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco products is common in young adults. We aimed to explore how ratings of subjective and contextual factors differed between discrete episodes of e-cigarette use vs. combustible tobacco product smoking among a sample of young adults. Methods: Young adults (N = 29, ages 18–30) who used e-cigarettes and ≥1 combustible tobacco product at least once weekly completed a 1-week smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Twice daily random prompts assessed past-15-min use of tobacco products, ratings of subjective factors (e.g., negative affect, craving), and contextual factors related to activity, location, and companionship. A multivariable GEE model assessed whether subjective or contextual factors were associated with e-cigarette vs. combustible tobacco product episodes. Results: 184 tobacco use episodes were reported (39.7% e-cigarette, 60.3% combustible tobacco product). High baseline cigarette dependence, as measured by the Fagerström Test for Cigarette Dependence, was associated with lower odds of e-cigarette vs. combustible tobacco product episodes (aOR 0.01, 95% CI (0.002–0.08); p < 0.001). Neither between- or within-subjects negative affect or craving scores were associated with e-cigarette use. Activities of eating/drinking (aOR 0.20, 95% CI (0.08–0.49); p = 0.001) and being in the companionship of a person who smoked cigarettes (aOR 0.13, 95% CI (0.04–0.43); p = 0.001) were associated with lower odds of e-cigarette vs. combustible tobacco product use episodes. However, traveling (aOR 12.02, 95% CI (3.77–38.26); p ≤ 0.001) and being in a public space (aOR 2.76, 95% CI (1.10–6.96); p = 0.03) were associated with higher odds of e-cigarette than combustible tobacco product use episodes. Conclusions: This pilot data suggests that unique contextual factors may be associated with e-cigarette use, compared to combustible tobacco smoking in a sample of young adults who use both e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco products. Future research with larger samples is needed to better characterize varying contexts and cues for tobacco use among young adults who are dual users.

Correlates of e-cigarette use for smoking cessation among clients in residential substance use disorder treatment

Little is known about e-cigarette use among persons in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, or their use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. Prevalence of e-cigarette use and correlates of e-cigarette use for smoking cessation were examined among clients in SUD treatment. Participants (n = 332) were current cigarette smokers recruited from 20 residential SUD programs in California. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify correlates of using e-cigarettes for quitting smoking. Almost half (45.2%) of the sample had ever used e-cigarettes for smoking cessation, and 34% had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. Smokers who had used e-cigarettes for smoking cessation, compared to those who had not, were younger (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.91, 0.96), had more than a high school education (AOR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.07, 2.68), sought treatment for both SUD and mental health disorder (AOR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.38, 5.00), wanted help quitting smoking (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.03, 3.50) and perceived e-cigarettes as equally harmful (AOR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.10, 8.33) or less harmful than tobacco cigarettes (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.02, 7.77). Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino participants were less likely to use e-cigarettes for smoking cessation than participants who identify as White. E-cigarettes were favorably perceived by clients in residential SUD treatment as a quit smoking aid. Treatment programs should consider how to advise clients with respect to the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.

Sociodemographic Patterns of Exclusive and Dual Use of ENDS and Menthol/Non-Menthol Cigarettes among US Youth (Ages 15-17) Using Two Nationally Representative Surveys (2013-2017)

The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) among youth in the United States has increased rapidly in the past decade. Simultaneously, while youth cigarette smoking has declined considerably, youth are still more likely to use menthol cigarettes than any other age group. We used nationally representative data on 15–17-year-olds from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study and the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) (2013–2017) to better understand current cigarette (by menthol flavoring) and ENDS use in the US. We calculated weighted population prevalence estimates across years for multiple patterns of current cigarette and ENDS use (i.e., exclusive menthol cigarette, exclusive non-menthol cigarette, exclusive ENDS, dual ENDS and menthol cigarette, and dual ENDS and non-menthol cigarette) by sex, race/ethnicity, parental education level, household income, and homeownership. Overall, both exclusive menthol and non-menthol cigarette use declined from 2013–2017. Exclusive ENDS use increased, particularly among youth who were non-Hispanic White or had a higher socioeconomic status (measured by parental education, household income, and homeownership). Dual use of ENDS with either menthol or non-menthol cigarettes did not change significantly. Monitoring changes in these sociodemographic patterns will help inform future youth tobacco prevention strategies.

Tobacco and Nicotine Use Among US Adult "Never Smokers" in Wave 4 (2016-2018) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study

INTRODUCTION

A common criterion for being labeled a "never smoker" is having smoked <100 lifetime cigarettes. This category is often used as an unexposed reference group to estimate the relative harm from cigarettes. We examined the amount of current and past cigarette and non-cigarette tobacco/nicotine use among adults who met this "never smoker" criterion.

METHODS

We analyzed cross-sectional data from 17 179 adult "never smokers" (ie, reported <100 lifetime cigarettes) in Wave 4 (2016-2018) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a United States nationally representative sample. We used PATH-derived variables to describe "never smokers'" demographics as well as cigarette and non-cigarette tobacco/nicotine use.

RESULTS

Approximately half of "never smokers" were young adults (49.3%). Most were white (68.6%) with some college or more (64.4%). Most "never smokers" had tried any cigarette or non-cigarette tobacco/nicotine in their lifetime (66.7%), 8.5% smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days, and 5.3% were current experimental (ie, some days or every day) cigarette smokers. By definition, "never smokers" reported smoking <100 lifetime cigarettes. One fifth (22.8%) had a lifetime history of established regular non-cigarette tobacco/nicotine use and 8.6% were current established regular non-cigarette tobacco/nicotine users. In total, 9.4% of "never smokers" were current experimental or established regular users of combustible tobacco.

CONCLUSIONS

The 100-cigarette lifetime threshold includes substantial amounts of current and past tobacco use and thus does not represent lack of exposure to cigarette or non-cigarette tobacco. "Never smoker" reference groups may produce underestimates of the relative harms from cigarettes.

IMPLICATIONS

The <100 lifetime cigarettes criterion may not capture what many would consider true "never smokers." Relying on the current definition of "never smokers" as a reference group will include a substantial number of those currently and recently using combustible tobacco and thus produce data that may underestimate the relative harm from cigarettes. Prospective longitudinal research is needed to compare how the 100-cigarette lifetime threshold versus other definitions of regular cigarette smoking differ in predictive validity of clinically meaningful outcomes and health harms to determine the optimal criteria to define established cigarette smoking.

Overview of tobacco use transitions for population health

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act provided the US Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products using a population health standard. Models have been developed to estimate the population health impacts of tobacco initiation, cessation and relapse transitions. Models should be informed by high-quality, longitudinal data to estimate these constructs. Simulation studies have generated data to predict the impact of various tobacco control interventions, including the influence of regulations on tobacco use behaviours and health. The purpose of this paper is to provide a high-level conceptual overview for understanding tobacco transition behaviours and correlates of these behaviours using data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a US nationally representative longitudinal tobacco study of about 46 000 persons aged 12+ years. The papers that follow in this journal issue build and expand on this conceptual overview using data from the first three waves of the PATH Study. These papers describe use patterns of different tobacco products and their correlates, and can serve as foundations for more in-depth papers that will help the research community better understand the population health impacts and drivers of different tobacco use patterns.

Longitudinal pathways of exclusive and polytobacco cigarette use among youth, young adults and adults in the USA: findings from the PATH Study Waves 1-3 (2013-2016)

OBJECTIVE

Cigarettes are the most harmful and most prevalent tobacco product in the USA. This study examines cross-sectional prevalence and longitudinal pathways of cigarette use among US youth (12-17 years), young adults (18-24 years) and adults 25+ (25 years and older).

DESIGN

Data were drawn from the first three waves (2013-2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of US adults and youth. Respondents with data at all three waves (youth, N=11 046; young adults, N=6478; adults 25+, N=17 188) were included in longitudinal analyses.

RESULTS

Among Wave 1 (W1) any past 30-day (P30D) cigarette users, more than 60%, persistently used cigarettes across three waves in all age groups. Exclusive cigarette use was more common among adult 25+ W1 P30D cigarette users (62.6%), while cigarette polytobacco use was more common among youth (57.1%) and young adults (65.2%). Persistent exclusive cigarette use was the most common pathway among adults 25+ and young adults; transitioning from exclusive cigarette use to cigarette polytobacco use was most common among youth W1 exclusive cigarette users. For W1 youth and young adult cigarette polytobacco users, the most common pattern of use was persistent cigarette polytobacco use.

CONCLUSIONS

Cigarette use remains persistent across time, regardless of age, with most W1 P30D smokers continuing to smoke at all three waves. Policy efforts need to continue focusing on cigarettes, in addition to products such as electronic nicotine delivery systems that are becoming more prevalent.

Longitudinal pathways of exclusive and polytobacco cigar use among youth, young adults and adults in the USA: findings from the PATH Study Waves 1-3 (2013-2016)

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study is to examine the cross-sectional prevalence of use and 3-year longitudinal pathways of cigar use in US youth (12-17 years), young adults (18-24 years), and adults 25+ (25 years or older).

DESIGN

Data were drawn from the first three waves (2013-2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of US youth and adults. Respondents with data at all three waves (youth, n=11 046; young adults, n=6478; adults 25+, n=17 188) were included in longitudinal analyses.

RESULTS

Weighted cross-sectional prevalence of past 30-day (P30D) use was stable for adults 25+ (~6%), but decreased in youth (Wave 1 (W1) to Wave 3 (W3)=2.5% to 1.2%) and young adults (W1 to W3=15.7% to 14.0%). Among W1 P30D cigar users, over 50% discontinued cigar use (irrespective of other tobacco use) by Wave 2 (W2) or W3. Across age groups, over 70% of W1 P30D cigar users also indicated P30D use of another tobacco product, predominantly cigar polytobacco use with cigarettes. Discontinuing all tobacco use by W2 or W3 was greater in adult exclusive P30D cigar users compared with polytobacco cigar users.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the majority of P30D cigar users discontinued use by W3, adult polytobacco users of cigars were less likely to discontinue all tobacco use than were exclusive cigar users. Tracking patterns of cigar use will allow further assessment of the population health impact of cigars.

Correlates of tobacco product reuptake and relapse among youth and adults in the USA: findings from the PATH Study Waves 1-3 (2013-2016)

OBJECTIVE

This study examines sociodemographic and tobacco use correlates of reuptake and relapse to tobacco use across a variety of tobacco products (cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, cigars, hookah and smokeless tobacco) among the US population.

DESIGN

Data were drawn from the first three waves (2013-2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of US youth (ages 12-17) and adults (ages 18+). Reuptake (past 30-day use among previous tobacco users) and relapse (current use among former established users; adults only) were examined among previous users of at least one type of tobacco product at Wave 1 (W1) or Wave 2 (W2) (n=19 120 adults, n=3039 youth). Generalised estimating equations were used to evaluate the association between demographic and tobacco use characteristics at baseline, with reuptake/relapse at follow-up, over two 1-year periods (W1-W2 and W2-Wave 3).

RESULTS

Any tobacco product reuptake occurred in 7.8% of adult previous users and 30.3% of youth previous users. Correlates of any tobacco reuptake included being male, non-Hispanic black and bisexual in adults, but race and sexual orientation were not consistent findings in youth. Among recent former users, relapse rates were greater (32.9%). Shorter time since last use and greater levels of tobacco dependence showed the strongest association with any tobacco relapse.

DISCUSSION

Continued clinical and public health efforts to provide adults with tools to cope with tobacco dependence symptoms, especially within the first year or two after quitting, could help prevent relapse.

The Influence of Increasing Levels of Provider-Patient Discussion on Quit Behavior: An Instrumental Variable Analysis of a National Survey

Objective: We aimed to examine the influence of increasing levels of discussion (both asked and advised, either asked or advised but not both, and neither asked nor advised) on quit behavior. Methods: We included 4133 adult current smokers from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey. The primary outcomes were quit intent and quit attempt, and the secondary outcomes were methods used for quitting. We used an instrumental variable analysis, as well as propensity score weighted and multivariable logistic regressions. Results: Compared to no discussion, having both or only one discussion, respectively, increased quit intent (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.63–1.66 and OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.99–1.05), quit attempt (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.75–1.77 and OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.57–1.63). Among those who attempted to quit (n = 1536), having both or only one discussion increased the use of pharmacologic (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.97–2.02 and OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.49–1.63) or behavioral (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.94–2.08 and OR = 2.91, 95% CI = 2.74–3.08) quit methods. Conclusions: Increasing levels of provider–patient discussion encourages quit behavior, and should be an integral part of reducing the health and economic burden of smoking. Strategies that promote the adherence and compliance of providers to communicate with patients may help increase the success of smoking cessation.

Public health implications of vaping in the USA: the smoking and vaping simulation model

Background

Nicotine vaping products (NVPs) are increasingly popular worldwide. They may provide public health benefits if used as a substitute for smoking, but may create public health harms if used as a gateway to smoking or to discourage smoking cessation. This paper presents the Smoking and Vaping Model (SAVM), a user-friendly model which estimates the public health implications of NVPs in the USA.

Methods

SAVM adopts a cohort approach. We derive public health implications by comparing smoking- and NVP-attributable deaths and life-years lost under a No-NVP and an NVP Scenario. The No-NVP Scenario projects current, former, and never smoking rates via smoking initiation and cessation rates, with their respective mortality rates. The NVP Scenario allows for smoking- and NVP-specific mortality rates, switching from cigarette to NVP use, separate NVP and smoking initiation rates, and separate NVP and smoking cessation rates. After validating the model against recent US survey data, we present the base model with extensive sensitivity analyses.

Results

The SAVM projects that under current patterns of US NVP use and substitution, NVP use will translate into 1.8 million premature smoking- and vaping-attributable deaths avoided and 38.9 million life-years gained between 2013 and 2060. When the NVP relative risk is set to 5%, the results are sensitive to the level of switching and smoking cessation rates and to a lesser extent smoking initiation rates. When the NVP relative risk is raised to 40%, the public health gains in terms of averted deaths and LYL are reduced by 42% in the base case, and the results become much more sensitive to variations in the base case parameters.

Discussion

Policymakers, researchers, and other public health stakeholders can apply the SAVM to estimate the potential public health impact of NVPs in their country or region using their own data sources. In developing new simulation models involving NVPs, it will be important to conduct extensive sensitivity analysis and continually update and validate with new data.

Conclusion

The SAVM indicates the potential benefits of NVP use. However, given the uncertainty surrounding model parameters, extensive sensitivity analysis becomes particularly important.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12963-021-00250-7.

A Longitudinal Study of Exposure to Tobacco-Related Toxicants and Subsequent Respiratory Symptoms Among U.S. Adults with Varying E-cigarette Use Status

BACKGROUND

The link between e-cigarette use and subsequent development of respiratory diseases remains an open question.

AIMS AND METHODS

A subset of a probability sample of U.S. adults from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study Waves 1 and 2 were selected for biospecimen analysis (n = 4614). Subjects were divided into three mutually exclusive groups at baseline: nonusers (n = 2849), exclusive e-cigarette users (n = 222), and poly e-cigarette/tobacco users (n = 1,543). Geometric mean concentrations of baseline biomarkers from five classes of harmful and potentially harmful constituents were reported. Multivariable linear regressions were conducted to examine the relationship between baseline biomarkers and subsequent respiratory symptoms among user groups.

RESULTS

Baseline exclusive e-cigarette users (33.6%[confidence interval, CI: 26.7% to 41.4%]) and poly e-cigarette/tobacco users (50.8%[CI: 47.4% to 54.2%]) had higher prevalence of subsequent respiratory symptoms than nonusers (21.7%[19.2% to 24.4%]). As compared with nonusers, poly e-cigarette/tobacco users had higher concentrations in clinically relevant biomarkers at baseline than exclusive e-cigarette users. Among poly e-cigarette/tobacco users, baseline nicotine metabolites (TNE2, cotinine), tobacco-specific nitrosamine (NNAL), PAH (1-NAP, 3-FLU), and volatile organic compound (N-Acetyl-S-(2-carboxyethyl)-l-cysteine, N-acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-l-cysteine) were significantly higher among those reporting subsequent respiratory symptoms than those who did not. Among exclusive e-cigarette users, baseline NNAL was significantly higher among those reporting subsequent respiratory symptoms than those who did not. Within subjects with subsequent respiratory symptoms, NNAL was 2.5 times higher in exclusive e-cigarette users (10.7[6.5 to 17.5]) and 63.4 times higher in poly e-cigarette/tobacco users (199.6[176.7 to 225.4]) than nonusers (3.1[2.4 to 3.9]).

CONCLUSIONS

E-cigarette use is associated with higher concentrations of known tobacco-related toxicants and risks of subsequent respiratory symptoms than nonusers. Poly e-cigarette/tobacco users exhibit higher risk than exclusive e-cigarette users.

IMPLICATIONS

This longitudinal study identified positive associations between baseline urinary biomarkers of exposure to tobacco-related toxicants and increased risks of subsequent respiratory symptoms across varying e-cigarette use groups. E-cigarette use is associated with increased exposure to known tobacco-related toxicants, and certain toxicant exposure increases the risk of respiratory symptoms.

Transitions between cigarette, ENDS and dual use in adults in the PATH study (waves 1-4): multistate transition modelling accounting for complex survey design

INTRODUCTION

Even prior to 2018, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) began to dramatically change the landscape of tobacco products and product use patterns in the USA.

METHODS

Using a Markov multistate transition model accounting for complex survey design, transition rates between never, non-current, cigarette, ENDS and dual use states were estimated for 23 253 adult participants in waves 1-4 (approximately 2013-2017) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study. We made short-term transition projections and estimated HRs for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education and income.

RESULTS

Cigarette use was persistent among adults, with 89.7% (95% CI 89.1% to 90.3%) of exclusive cigarette users and 86.1% (95% CI 84.4% to 87.9%) of dual users remaining cigarette users (either exclusive or dual) after one wave. In contrast, ENDS use was less persistent, with 72.1% (95% CI 69.6% to 74.6%) of exclusive ENDS users and 50.5% (95% CI 47.8% to 53.3%) of dual users remaining ENDS users (with or without cigarettes) after one wave. Exclusive ENDS users were more likely to start cigarette use after one wave than either never users (HR 25.2; 95% CI 20.9 to 30.5) or non-current users (HR 5.0; 95% CI 4.3 to 5.8). Dual users of ENDS and cigarettes were more likely to stop using cigarettes than exclusive cigarette users (HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.6 to 2.3). Transition rates varied among sociodemographic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Multistate transition models are an effective tool for uncovering and characterising longitudinal patterns and determinants of tobacco use from complex survey data. ENDS use among US adults was less persistent than cigarette use prior to 2018.

Association of Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Use With Cigarette Smoking Progression or Reduction Among Young Adults

Importance

The prevalence of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use, including e-cigarettes, among US young adults (YAs) has raised questions about how these products may affect future tobacco and nicotine use among YAs. Given this prevalence and that young adulthood is a critical period for the establishment of tobacco and nicotine use, it is important to consider the association between ENDS use and cigarette smoking specifically in this age group.

Objective

To examine whether ENDS use frequency or intensity is associated with changes in cigarette smoking among US YA ever smokers during 1 year.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used 3 waves of data (2013-2014, 2014-2015, and 2015-2016) from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study of adults and youth. Unweighted 1:6 propensity score matching was used to match participants on wave 1 risk factors for ENDS use at wave 2. The changes in smoking between wave 2 and wave 3 were assessed using the matched sample. In total, 1096 ENDS-naive, ever cigarette-smoking YAs (18-24 years of age) at wave 1 who participated in wave 2 and wave 3 and who had complete data in the PATH Study were included in the analyses, which were conducted from August 2018 to October 2019.

Exposures

Never ENDS use (n = 987), any previous 30-day ENDS use (n = 109), 1 to 5 days of ENDS use in the previous 30 days (n = 75), and 6 or more days ENDS use in the previous 30 days at wave 2 (n = 34).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The analytic sample was selected using multiple variables based on peer-reviewed literature supporting associations with ENDS use. The main outcomes-changes in cigarette smoking behavior between wave 2 and wave 3-were defined using 2 measures: (1) change in smoking frequency, defined as the number of smoking days in the previous 30 days at wave 3 vs wave 2, and (2) change in smoking intensity, defined as the number smoking days in the previous 30 days multiplied by the mean number of cigarettes consumed on smoking days at wave 3 vs wave 2.

Results

The present cohort analyses included 1096 YA ever smokers who were ENDS naive at wave 1. The majority of the sample were women (609 [55.6%]) and White individuals (698 [63.7%]), and the mean (SD) age was 21.4 (1.9) years. In wave 1, 161 YAs (14.7%) were daily smokers in the previous 30 days. After propensity score matching, no statistically significant associations were observed between any definition of wave 2 ENDS use and changes in either the frequency or intensity of smoking at wave 3.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of US YA ever smokers, ENDS use was not associated with either decreased or increased cigarette smoking during a 1-year period. However, it is possible that the rapidly evolving marketplace of vaping products may lead to different trajectories of YA cigarette and ENDS use in the future.

Initiation of any tobacco and five tobacco products across 3 years among youth, young adults and adults in the USA: findings from the PATH Study Waves 1-3 (2013-2016)

OBJECTIVE

This study reports weighted cross-sectional prevalence of never use of tobacco, and longitudinal past 12-month (P12M), past 30-day (P30D) and frequent P30D any tobacco or specific tobacco product initiation across three 1-year waves. Longitudinal three-wave pathways are examined to outline pathways of exclusive and polytobacco initiation, as well as pathways of new initiators of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or cigarettes.

DESIGN

Data were drawn from the first three waves (2013-2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of US youth and adults. Respondents with data at all three waves (youth, N = 11 046; young adults, N = 6478; adults 25+, N = 17 188) were included in longitudinal analyses.

RESULTS

Across the three age groups, weighted cross-sectional analyses revealed never any tobacco use decreased each year from 2013 to 2016, reflecting overall increases in tobacco initiation in the population during this time. Compared with cigarettes, cigars, hookah and smokeless tobacco, ENDS had the highest proportion of P12M initiation from Wave 1 to Wave 3 (W3) for each age group. Among youth Wave 2 P30D initiators of exclusive ENDS or cigarettes, the most common W3 outcome was not using any tobacco (ENDS: 59.0% (95% CI 48.4 to 68.8); cigarettes: 40.3% (95% CI 28.7 to 53.1)).

CONCLUSIONS

Initiation rates of ENDS among youth and young adults have increased the number of ever tobacco users in the US prevention strategies across the spectrum of tobacco products which can address youth initiation of tobacco products.

Correlates of tobacco product cessation among youth and adults in the USA: findings from the PATH Study Waves 1-3 (2013-2016)

OBJECTIVE

To report on demographic and tobacco use correlates of cessation behaviours across tobacco products (cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), cigars, hookah and smokeless tobacco) among the US population.

DESIGN

Data were drawn from the first three waves (2013-2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of US youth (ages 12-17) and adults (ages 18+) . Past 30-day (P30D) tobacco users at Wave 1 (W1) or Wave 2 (W2) were included (n=1374 youth; n=14 389 adults). Generalised estimating equations were used to evaluate the association between demographic and tobacco use characteristics at baseline, with cessation behaviours at follow-up (discontinuing use, attempting to quit, quitting), over two 1-year periods (W1-W2, W2-Wave 3).

RESULTS

Among adult users of each type of tobacco product, frequency of use was negatively associated with discontinuing use. Among adult cigarette smokers, non-Hispanic white smokers, those with lower educational attainment and those with lower household income were less likely to discontinue cigarette use; ENDS use was positively associated with making quit attempts but was not associated with cigarette quitting among attempters; smokeless tobacco use was positively associated with quitting among attempters; tobacco dependence was negatively associated with quitting among attempters. Among youth cigarette smokers, tobacco dependence was negatively associated with making quit attempts.

DISCUSSION

Demographic correlates of tobacco cessation behaviours underscore tobacco use disparities in the USA. Use of ENDS and use of smokeless tobacco products are positively associated with some adult cigarette cessation behaviours.

Longitudinal pathways of exclusive and polytobacco hookah use among youth, young adults and adults in the USA: findings from the PATH Study Waves 1-3 (2013-2016)

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study is to examine cross-sectional rates of use and longitudinal pathways of hookah use among US youth (ages 12-17), young adults (ages 18-24), and adults 25+ (ages 25 and older).

DESIGN

Data were drawn from the first three waves (2013-2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of US adults and youth. Respondents with data at all three waves (youth, n=11 046; young adults, n=6478; adults 25+, n=17 188) were included in longitudinal analyses.

RESULTS

Young adults had higher ever, past 12-month (P12M) and past 30-day cross-sectional prevalence of hookah use at each wave than youth or adults 25+. The majority of Wave 1 (W1) hookah users were P12M users of other tobacco products (youth: 73.9%, young adults: 80.5%, adults 25+: 83.2%). Most youth and adult W1 P12M hookah users discontinued use in Wave 2 or Wave 3 (youth: 58.0%, young adults: 47.5%, adults 25+: 63.4%). Most W1 P12M hookah polytobacco users used cigarettes (youth: 49.4%, young adults: 59.4%, adults 25+: 63.2%) and had lower rates of quitting all tobacco than exclusive hookah users or hookah polytobacco users who did not use cigarettes.

CONCLUSIONS

Hookah use is more common among young adults than among youth or adults 25+. Discontinuing hookah use is the most common pathway among exclusive or polytobacco hookah users. Understanding longitudinal transitions in hookah use is important in understanding behavioural outcomes at the population level.