Prevalence and correlates of long-term e-cigarette and nicotine replacement therapy use: a prospective study in England.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study examining the prevalence and correlates of long-term e-cigarette and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) use in England. The study uses data from the Smoking Toolkit Study, a monthly repeat cross-sectional survey of adults in England. The study aimed to answer research questions about the proportion of adults and past-year smokers who use e-cigarettes and NRT for at least one year, and how long-term users of these products differ from non-users in their sociodemographic and smoking-related characteristics.

Key points:

* The study uses data from the Smoking Toolkit Study, a monthly repeat cross-sectional survey of adults in England.
* The study estimates the weighted prevalence of long-term use of e-cigarettes and NRT in the total adult population and past-year smokers at baseline and over 12-month follow-up.
* The study uses logistic regression to examine the association between sociodemographic and smoking-related characteristics and long-term use of e-cigarettes and NRT.
* The study found that long-term use of e-cigarettes and NRT was significantly associated with age, region, level of education, disability, and smoking status.
* Long-term e-cigarette use was more prevalent among those aged 35-54 years, while long-term NRT use was more prevalent among those aged 35-54 and ≥55 years.
* Long-term e-cigarette and NRT use were significantly less prevalent among people with no post-16 qualifications and more prevalent among those with a disability.
* Prevalence of long-term e-cigarette and NRT use did not differ significantly between current smokers and recent ex-smokers but was significantly less prevalent among never smokers.
* Long-term NRT use, but not long-term e-cigarette use, was associated with sex and high-risk drinking, with higher prevalence observed among women and high-risk drinkers.
* Long-term e-cigarette use, but not long-term NRT use, was associated with the presence of children in the household, with lower prevalence observed among people with children in their household.

Main message:
The study found that long-term use of e-cigarettes and NRT is almost exclusively by current or ex-smokers. Only a minority of past-year smokers reported long-term e-cigarette or NRT use, but this figure may be an underestimate, especially for e-cigarette use. Long-term e-cigarette use was more prevalent than long-term NRT use in the adult population in England. Long-term e-cigarette and NRT use were higher among older smokers and those more motivated to quit smoking. The study provides valuable information about the prevalence and correlates of long-term e-cigarette and NRT use in England and can inform regulatory decisions regarding these products.

Jackson SE, hill E, Shahab L, Beard E, Michie S, Brown J. Prevalence and correlates of long-term e-cigarette and nicotine replacement therapy use: a prospective study in England. BMJ open. 2019;9(10):1. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029252