Patterns of electronic cigarette, conventional cigarette, and hookah use and related passive exposure among adolescents in Kuwait: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the patterns and prevalence of tobacco product use among adolescents in Kuwait. The study aims to estimate the use of electronic cigarettes, conventional cigarettes, and hookah, as well as the exposure to secondhand smoke and secondhand aerosols from e-cigarettes. The results of this study can inform tobacco prevention and control strategies in Kuwait.

Key Points:

* The study enrolled high school students across Kuwait and collected data through self-reported surveys.
* The results showed that 26.4% of the students were current e-cigarette users, 25.1% were conventional cigarette smokers, and 20.9% were hookah smokers.
* The prevalence of concurrent triple use of 'e-cigarettes, conventional cigarettes, and hookah' was estimated to be 12.8%.
* among the students, 41.9% were exposed to household secondhand smoke, 32.0% were exposed to household secondhand aerosols from e-cigarettes, and 62.2% were exposed to secondhand smoke and/or aerosols in public places.
* Male adolescents were more likely than female adolescents to be current e-cigarette users, conventional cigarette smokers, and hookah smokers.
* The study highlights the need for continued monitoring of all forms of tobacco product use among adolescents and the strengthening of tobacco prevention and control programs.

Main Message:
The study emphasizes the significant proportion of adolescents in Kuwait who are currently using tobacco products and being exposed to secondhand smoke and aerosols. The findings underscore the importance of implementing and enforcing tobacco prevention and control strategies to protect this vulnerable population. The study also highlights the need for further research to identify associated factors and successful control and prevention strategies.

Esmaeil a, alshammasi a, almutairi W, et al. Patterns of electronic cigarette, conventional cigarette, and hookah use and related passive exposure among adolescents in Kuwait: a cross-sectional study. Tobacco induced diseases. 2020;18:59. doi:10.18332/tid/123499