Summary
Introduction:
This article investigates the heterogeneity among individuals who smoke cigarettes and vape by examining biomarkers of exposure (BOEs) and biomarkers of potential harm (BOPhs) in subpopulations based on the PaTh Study Wave 1 (2013-2014) data. The study aims to differentiate between various subgroups of people who smoke cigarettes and vape.
Key Points:
* The study identifies four subgroups within people who smoke and vape: frequent smokers and vapers, frequent smokers who occasionally vape, frequent vapers who occasionally smoke, and infrequent smokers and vapers.
* Eighteen BOEs and four BOPhs were compared within the subgroups and against people who only smoke cigarettes everyday, people who only vape everyday, and people who never used any tobacco products.
* Many BOEs and BOPhs were higher among people who frequently smoke and vape relative to other subgroups. however, BOEs were significantly lower in infrequent smokers and vapers compared to people who only smoke cigarettes everyday.
* The frequency of tobacco product use should be considered when categorizing people who smoke and vape, as not all individuals exhibit the same levels of BOEs and BOPhs.
Main Message:
The findings of this study demonstrate that people who smoke cigarettes and vape are not a homogenous group, and their BOEs and BOPhs differ significantly. In particular, infrequent smokers and vapers show lower levels of BOEs and BOPhs, suggesting that frequency of tobacco product use should be considered when developing regulatory policies. This study highlights the importance of examining subpopulations within tobacco users to better understand the risks and potential harm reduction strategies.
Citation
Lizhnyak PN, Noggle B, Wei L, et al. Understanding heterogeneity among individuals who smoke cigarettes and vape: assessment of biomarkers of exposure and potential harm among subpopulations from the PaTh Wave 1 Data. harm reduction journal. 2022;19(1):90. doi:10.1186/s12954-022-00673-x
