Summary
Introduction:
This article examines the patterns of e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking over two years among current and former combustible cigarette smokers in the US using data from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) study. The study also assessed e-cigarette correlates of different use patterns.
Key Points:
* The study selected current and former cigarette smokers who were current e-cigarette users at baseline.
* Exclusive e-cigarette users were more likely to use tank/mod style e-cigarettes and vape non-tobacco flavors, while dual users were more likely to use disposable or cartridge-based systems and vape tobacco flavors.
* among exclusive e-cigarette users at baseline, 44% continued exclusive e-cigarette use after two years, while 60% of dual users returned to exclusive cigarette smoking.
* Participants who vaped sweet or mint/menthol flavors and those that used refillable tank/mod devices were less likely to abstain from vaping and smoking over follow-up.
* Daily vaping was only beneficial for daily cigarette smokers, and was inversely associated with smoking abstinence for non-daily cigarette smokers.
* The study suggests that there may be tradeoffs of banning flavored vaping options, as flavors may help with smoking abstinence but also contribute to greater long-term usage of e-cigarettes.
Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of tracking both e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking over time and identifying factors that facilitate smokers to quit both products. The findings also indicate a need for studies that examine differences between e-cigarette product characteristics rather than homogenizing e-cigarettes as one single product. The study has implications for tobacco regulations, particularly in light of the FDa's premarket authorization applications and bans on flavored tobacco products.
Citation
harlow aF, Fetterman JL, Ross CS, et al. association of device type, flavours and vaping behaviour with tobacco product transitions among adult electronic cigarette users in the USa. Tobacco control. 2022;31:e10-e17. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-055999
