Summary
Introduction:
This article explores the cross-sectional associations between perceived health and current e-cigarette use in a large population-based cohort. The study investigates how perceived health, both global and respiratory, is related to e-cigarette use among current and former smokers, while considering the role of objective health features and health-related behaviors.
Key Points:
* The study uses data from the French CONSTaNCES cohort, which includes participants with a variety of occupational and sociodemographic characteristics.
* Participants were classified as current or former smokers, and e-cigarette use was assessed using questions about ever and current use.
* Global and respiratory perceived health were evaluated using self-reported measures. Objective health features, such as spirometry and blood pressure, were also assessed.
* The study found that participants with poor perceived health, both global and respiratory, were at greater risk of e-cigarette use. These associations remained unchanged after adjusting for objective health features and health-related behaviors.
* The study also found that former smokers who felt unhealthy were more likely to use e-cigarettes, and this association remained significant when restricting the population to recent former smokers.
Main Message:
The findings suggest that the more current and former smokers felt unhealthy, the more they tended to currently use e-cigarettes. People who regularly use e-cigarettes should obtain medical supervision that takes into account perceived health, not just objective diagnoses and measurements. Counseling practices could include assessing perceived health status to reinforce motivation to quit smoking.
Citation
Lequy E, Wiernik E, Cyr D, et al. Poor perceived health is associated with current use of electronic cigarette among current and former smokers: Findings from the CONSTaNCES cohort. European addiction Research. 2019;25(6):310-319. doi:10.1159/000502517
