Rassegna Stampa Scientifica Maggio 2022

 

 

 

 

Impact of Canada’s menthol cigarette ban on quitting among menthol smokers: pooled analysis of pre–post evaluation from the ITC Project and the Ontario Menthol Ban Study and projections of impact in the USA

Tobacco Control Published Online First: 28 April 2022.

Geoffrey T Fong, Janet Chung-Hall, Gang Meng, Lorraine V Craig, Mary E Thompson, Anne C K Quah, K Michael Cummings, Andrew Hyland, Richard J O'Connor, David T Levy, Cristine D Delnevo, Ollie Ganz, Thomas Eissenberg, Eric K Soule, Robert Schwartz, Joanna E Cohen, Michael O Chaiton

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/04/27/tobaccocontrol-2021-057227

 

Also:

 

Vaping and anime: a growing area of concern

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/04/25/tobaccocontrol-2021-057195

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"In conclusion, this review indicates that e-cigarette products with ice hybrid flavours or synthetic coolants may be appealing, widely marketed, preferred among young people and possess possible toxicological concerns. To inform regulation of e-cigarettes with ice flavours and non-menthol coolants, research is needed to address evidence gaps on the epidemiology, toxicology, health effects, addiction potential and influence on smoking cessation of the evolving product class."

 

Ice flavours and non-menthol synthetic cooling agents in e-cigarette products: a review

Tobacco Control Published Online First: 28 April 2022.

Adam M Leventhal, Alayna P Tackett, Lauren Whitted, Sven Eric Jordt, Sairam V Jabba

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/04/27/tobaccocontrol-2021-057073

 

Related BMJ Open report:

 

Measuring young adult appeal for menthol and non-menthol cigarettes: protocol of a clinical trial using both laboratory and intensive longitudinal methods (PRISM)

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/4/e058823.long

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"Of the sampled 558 960 adults, 41.4% (unweighted) were aged 18 to 25 years, 29.8% (unweighted) were aged 26 to 49 years, and 53.4% (unweighted) were women. From 2006 to 2019, the past-month self-reported cigarette smoking prevalence declined significantly among adults with MDE from 37.3% to 24.2% for an average annual percent change of −3.2 (95% CI, −3.5 to −2.8; P < .001)… In this exploratory, serial, cross-sectional study, there were significant reductions in the prevalence of self-reported cigarette smoking among US adults with major depressive episode, substance use disorder, or both, between 2006 and 2019."

 

Trends in Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking Among US Adults With Major Depression or Substance Use Disorders, 2006-2019

JAMA. 2022;327(16):1566-1576.

April 26, 2022

Beth Han, Nora D. Volkow, Carlos Blanco, Douglas Tipperman, Emily B. Einstein, Wilson M. Compton

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2791406

 

Related coverage:

 

Smoking rates fall among Americans with depression, substance use disorders

https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2022/04/27/smoking-depression-substance-use/2241651068404/

 

"Approximately 1% of pregnant women reported past 30-day exclusive e-cigarette use and 3.2% used e-cigarettes and one other tobacco product. Compared to no tobacco use, past 30-day e-cigarette use (exclusive or use with another tobacco product) during pregnancy was not associated with increased odds of an adverse pregnancy or birth outcome in bivariate or multivariable models… Conclusions: E-cigarette use during pregnancy is rare. Understanding the positive and negative impacts of pre-natal e-cigarette use on women’s health may guide public health messaging campaigns."

 

Birth Outcomes Associated with E-Cigarette and Non-E-Cigarette Tobacco Product Use During Pregnancy: An Examination of PATH Data Waves 1 – 5

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac111.

Published: 26 April 2022

Amy Cohn, Hoda Elmasry, Robert C Wild, Amanda L Johnson, Haneen Abudayyeh, Allison Kurti, Victoria H Coleman-Cowger

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac111/6574582

 

"Results from this study provide initial insights into the extent to which required nicotine warning statements appear in ENDS [electronic nicotine delivery systems] ads in the study sample across traditional (e.g., magazines, television, radio) and digital (e.g., online/mobile ads) advertising mediums. Following the August 10, 2018 effective date, we observed a substantial increase in the presence of the required FDA warning statement on the ENDS ads in this sample. However, a notable number of ads in the study lacked the required warning and warnings did not always include the required formatting displays."

 

Presence of nicotine warning statement on US electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) advertisements six months before and after the August 10, 2018 effective date

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac104.

Published: 29 April 2022

Lauren Czaplicki, Kristy Marynak, Dannielle Kelley, Meghan Moran, Sarah Trigger, Ryan David Kennedy

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac104/6576195

 

"We found high rates of e-cigarette ever use (29%) and current use (13%) among study participants. There was high exposure to e-cigarette advertising and promotion in social media, with a majority of participants (84%) reported ever seeing e-cigarette adverts or promotions on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others. Both high rates of e-cigarette use and exposure to social media advertising are associated. Participants reported ever seeing adverts and promotions were 2.91 times and 2.82 times more likely ever to use and currently use e-cigarettes, respectively, after controlling for socioeconomic factors, region, and cigarette smoking status."

 

Is Exposure to Social Media Advertising and Promotion Associated with E-cigarette Use? Evidence from Indonesia

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2022 Apr 1;23(4):1257-1262.

Widya Ratna Wulan, Dian Kusuma, Nurjanah Nurjanah, Aprianti Aprianti, Abdillah Ahsan

http://journal.waocp.org/article_90059.html

http://journal.waocp.org/article_90059_b62d9e1456dba0b0bc46e82651231ea0.pdf

 

Also:

 

Cigarette Consumption and Nutrient Intake in Indonesia: Study of Cigarette-Consuming Households

http://journal.waocp.org/article_90066.html

http://journal.waocp.org/article_90066_1a899637ec3d23e9f65ab845147af2d9.pdf

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"The annual cessation rate increased 29% using NHIS [National Health Interview Survey] data (from 4.2% in 2008-2013 to 5.4% in 2014-2019) and 33% with NSDUH [National Survey on Drug Use and Health] data (4.2% to 5.6%). The cessation rate increase accounts for 60% of a smoking prevalence decline in the most recent period exceeding the 1990-2013 predicted trend. The remaining 40% owes to declining smoking initiation. With current initiation and cessation rates, smoking prevalence should fall to 8.3% in 2030 and eventually reach a steady state of 3.53%... This [cessation rate] increase suggests that the Healthy People 2030 goal of 5% adult smoking prevalence, while ambitious, is attainable."

 

Monitoring the Increase in the U.S. Smoking Cessation Rate and its Implication for Future Smoking Prevalence

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac115.

Published: 29 April 2022

David Méndez, Thuy T T Le, Kenneth E Warner

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac115/6576151

 

Note: Open Access.

 

Also:

 

A Daily Assessment Study of Smoking Cessation After a Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac114/6576149

 

"We analysed the 2020 Eurobarometer survey, which collected data in 28 European countries… 51.1% of current tobacco smokers and 27.1% of exclusive EC [e-cigarette] or HTP [heated tobacco product] users reported having ever made a quit attempt. The majority of former and current smokers (75.8%) who made a quit attempt did so unassisted, with 28.8% reporting at least one attempt using a cessation aid. The most popular cessation aids were nicotine replacement therapy or other medication (13.4%) and ECs (11.3%)… Cessation support services should take into consideration the increasing numbers of users of EC and HTP who may be trying to quit."

 

How do Europeans quit using tobacco, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products? A cross-sectional analysis in 28 European countries

BMJ Open. 2022 Apr 29;12(4):e059068.

Marie Line El Asmar, Anthony A Laverty, Constantine I Vardavas, Filippos T Filippidis

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/4/e059068

 

Also:

 

Cross-sectional survey on cigarette smoking in Chinese high-income areas

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/4/e056209

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"After adjustment for secular trends, there was a significant increase from the pre-pandemic to pandemic period in the prevalence of use of traditional remote support by past-year smokers in a quit attempt (odds ratio[OR]=2.18[95% confidence interval 1.42-3.33]); specifically telephone support (OR=7.16[2.19-23.45]) and websites (OR=2.39[1.41-4.08]). There was also an increase in the prevalence of use of prescription medication (OR=1.47[1.08-2.00]); specifically varenicline (OR=1.66[1.09-2.52]). There were no significant changes in prevalence of use of other cessation aids after adjustment for secular trends."

 

Prevalence of use and real-world effectiveness of smoking cessation aids during the Covid-19 pandemic: a representative study of smokers in England

Addiction. 2022 May 2. Online ahead of print.

Sarah E Jackson, Sharon Cox, Lion Shahab, Jamie Brown

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.15903

 

Also:

 

Identifying Prospective Subpopulations of Combustible and Electronic Cigarette Dual Users in the United States via Finite Mixture Modeling

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.15906

 

"The results indicate that higher cigarette prices and taxes were associated with a decrease in smoking prevalence and an increased likelihood of quitting smoking. Cigarette tax and price increases produced the most powerful impact on the smoking prevalence of 18- to 24-year-olds. The estimates also show that males tended to be more price-sensitive than females… Cigarette price and tax changes were likely to have a smaller effect on individuals with annual income under $25,000 relative to individuals with higher income levels."

 

The association between smoking behaviors and prices and taxes per cigarette pack in the United States from 2000 through 2019

BMC Public Health. 2022 Apr 28;22(1):856.

Thuy T T Le, Mohammed A Jaffri

https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-13242-5

https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12889-022-13242-5.pdf

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"Considering the average PAAS [primary aromatic amines] content and estimated CBs [cigarette butts] littered worldwide every year, freshly smoked CBs can theoretically emit 2.9 tons of ∑PAAs into the environment annually. Considering other chemicals that may also be released into the environment via CBs (beside PAAs), we can consider CBs as a critical source of toxic compounds into the environment and water bodies."

 

Aromatic amines contents of cigarette butts: Fresh and aged cigarette butts vs unsmoked cigarette

Chemosphere. 2022 Apr 27;134735. Online ahead of print.

Sina Dobaradaran, Xenia A M Mutke, Torsten C Schmidt, Philipp Swiderski, Gabriel E De-la-Torre, Maik A Jochmann

 

 

E-cigarette Use and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Longitudinal Analysis of the PATH Study, 2013-2019

Circulation

Originally published 6 May 2022

Jonathan B. Berlowitz, Wubin Xie, Alyssa F. Harlow, Naomi M. Hamburg, Michael J. Blaha, Aruni Bhatnagar, Emelia J. Benjamin and Andrew C. Stokes

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057369

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epdf/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057369

 

Note: Open Access.

 

Related PR:

 

No health benefits among adults who used both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes

https://newsroom.heart.org/news/no-health-benefits-among-adults-who-used-both-e-cigarettes-and-traditional-cigarettes

 

"3830 English videos were included in the supervised machine learning. The most common video theme was ‘product review’ (48.9%), followed by ‘instruction’ (eg, ‘how to’ use/modify e-cigarettes; 17.3%); diverse e-cigarette products were featured; ‘vape enthusiasts’ most frequently posted e-cigarette videos (54.0%), followed by retailers (20.3%); 43.2% of videos had discount/sales of e-cigarettes; and the most common sales strategy was external links for purchasing (34.1%). ‘Vape trick’ was the least common theme but had the highest engagement (eg, >2 million views)… Discussion Our findings indicate that on YouTube videos accessible to youth, a variety of e-cigarette products are featured through diverse videos themes, with discount/sales. The findings highlight the need to regulate the promotion of e-cigarettes on social media platforms."

 

Understanding e-cigarette content and promotion on YouTube through machine learning

Tobacco Control Published Online First: 03 May 2022.

Grace Kong, Alex Sebastian Schott, Juhan Lee, Hassan Dashtian, Dhiraj Murthy

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/02/tobaccocontrol-2021-057243

 

"Significant lung disease (EVALI) has occurred in adolescents and not all cases are linked to vitamin E acetate. Finally, extrapolating research on adults to adolescents raises the possibility that e-cigarette use is linked to pre-symptomatic cardiovascular dysfunction and may have a significant health impact during adulthood. The combination of this evidence, from pre-clinical to population-based longitudinal studies, conclusively demonstrates that e-cigarettes are not safe for youth."

 

Health effects of electronic cigarettes

Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2022 May 4;101202. Online ahead of print.

Judith Groner

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1538544222000712

 

Also:

 

E-cigarette disparities: Who are the targets?

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1538544222000700

 

"Participants [young adults aged 18-25 years old in Los Angeles, California] reported pairing nicotine vaping with caffeinated beverages like coffee, pop/soda, tea, and after every meal (like patterns of combustible cigarette use). Participants also reported vaping nicotine as a tool to avoid binge eating and increase concentration while studying. Reports of vaping effecting (sic) appetite and eating behaviors also emerged. Vaping nicotine to suppress appetite and/or achieve weight loss was often reported in conjunction with an eating disorder. Participants reported learning about weight-motivated vaping from peers or deducing from cigarette effects and their own experiences with nicotine. Others mentioned controlling food cravings by vaping a similar e-liquid flavor."

 

A chocolate cake or a chocolate vape? Young adults describe their relationship with food and weight in the context of nicotine vaping

Appetite. 2022 May 5;175:106075. Online ahead of print.

Afton Kechter, Rachel Carmen Ceasar, Kelsey A Simpson, Sara J Schiff, Genevieve F Dunton, Ricky N Bluthenthal, Jessica L Barrington-Trimis

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666322001660

 

"After the introduction of new plain packaging [in France], the proportion of smokers who felt embarrassed taking out their pack of cigarettes in plain sight because of its appearance doubled in 2017 (11.9%, 95% CI: 10.2-13.9 vs 5.9%, 95% CI: 4.4-7.8 in 2016, p<0.001) and continued to increase in 2018 (15.5%, 95% CI: 13.7-17.5, p<0.01). In 2018, women were more embarrassed than men (OR=2.0; 95% CI: 1.5-2.6, p<0.001). In 2018, 26.8% (95% CI: 24.6-29.1) of smokers said the appearance of a pack of cigarettes motivated them to quit, and 22.5% (95% CI: 18.3-27.2) ex-smokers cited it as having motivated them to quit. Smokers who were embarrassed by displaying their pack were more likely to be motivated to quit because of the pack's appearance."

 

Plain packaging on tobacco products in France: Effectiveness on smokers' attitudes one year after implementation

Tob Induc Dis. 2022 Apr 7;20:35. eCollection 2022.

Anne Pasquereau, Romain Guignard, Raphaël Andler, Karine Gallopel-Morvan, Viêt Nguyen-Thanh

http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Plain-packaging-on-tobacco-products-in-France-Effectiveness-non-smokers-attitudes,146600,0,2.html

http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/pdf-146600-74381?filename=Plain%20packaging%20on.pdf

 

Also:

 

Stigmatizing attitudes about lung cancer among individuals who smoke cigarettes

http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Stigmatizing-attitudes-about-lung-cancer-among-individuals-nwho-smoke-cigarettes,146907,0,2.html

http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/pdf-146907-75360?filename=Stigmatizing%20attitudes.pdf

Content and trend analysis of user-generated nicotine sickness tweets: A retrospective infoveillance study

http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Content-and-trend-analysis-of-user-generated-nicotine-nsickness-tweets-A-retrospective,145941,0,2.html

http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/pdf-145941-73102?filename=Content%20and%20trend.pdf

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"Almost two-thirds of [1874] respondents thought it would be ‘a good thing’ if there came a time when it was no longer legal to sell cigarettes in shops in Australia and only 16.7% thought it would be ‘a bad thing’. After the concept of a phase-out was defined as removing a product from the Australian market over a set period, such as 5 years, but still allowing purchases online from overseas companies, 50.7% indicated support for such a phase-out and 61.8% thought it should happen within 10 years. Support was greater for specific measures such as licensing tobacco retailers (75.3%) and restricting sales to places children cannot enter (76.3%)."

 

Public support for policies to phase out the retail sale of cigarettes in Australia: results from a nationally representative survey

Tobacco Control Published Online First: 03 May 2022.

Emily Brennan, Elizaveta Ilchenko, Michelle Scollo, Sarah J Durkin, Melanie A Wakefield

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/02/tobaccocontrol-2021-057122

 

Also:

 

Ex ante evaluation of the impact of tobacco control policy measures aimed at the point of sale in the Netherlands

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/04/tobaccocontrol-2021-057205

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/tobaccocontrol/early/2022/05/04/tobaccocontrol-2021-057205.full.pdf

 

Note: Netherlands paper Open Access.

 

"Key themes from the employer interviews included: the local environment played an important role in implementation of tobacco control EBIs [evidence-based interventions]; tobacco control was perceived as important but not a priority; and tobacco control decisions were driven by worksite culture. Key themes from the employee focus groups included: perceived employer support for tobacco cessation was limited although there was interest from employees; employees who currently used tobacco were stigmatized for their behavior; and incentives and coaching were considered ideal tobacco control EBIs."

 

Worksite tobacco control - a qualitative study on perspectives from employers and employees at small worksites

BMC Public Health. 2022 May 6;22(1):904.

Christine M Kava, Raymond A Ruiz, Jeffrey R Harris, Peggy A Hannon

https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-13346-y

https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12889-022-13346-y.pdf

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"Data from a 4-year cohort of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study was used, including 7,512 smokers at Wave 1 who had smoking status data at Wave 4… Older smokers were more likely to report 12-month cigarette and tobacco abstinence and the effect of age on abstinence differed by smoking frequency/intensity. Smoking cessation interventions need to be age-specific and consider smoking frequency… Younger smokers may need more targeted cessation interventions to successfully quit."

 

Short and Long-Term Cigarette and Tobacco Abstinence among Daily and Non-Daily Older Smokers

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac116.

Published: 03 May 2022

Jaqueline C Avila, Carla J Berg, Jason Robinson, Jasjit S Ahluwalia

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac116/6578513

 

Also:

 

Measuring nicotine dependence among adolescent and young adult cigarillo users

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac117/6581064

 

"Average mouth-level nicotine estimates from cigarettes smoked during the hotel stays indicate participants puffed VLNC [very low nicotine content] cigarettes with greater intensity than NNC [normal nicotine content] cigarettes in each respective 24-hour period. However, this effect diminished over time (p<0.001). Specifically, VLNC puffing intensity was 40.0% (95% CI: 29.9, 53.0) greater than NNC puffing intensity in the first period, and 16.1% (95% CI: 6.9, 26.0) greater in the fourth period. Conclusion: Average puffing intensity per cigarette was elevated with exclusive VLNC cigarette use, but the extent of this effect declined across four days."

 

Early Changes in Puffing Intensity When Exclusively Using Open-Label Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac118.

Published: 07 May 2022

Cassidy M White, Clifford Watson, Roberto Bravo Cardenas, Phuong Ngac, Liza Valentin-Blasini, Benjamin C Blount, Joseph S Koopmeiners, Rachel L Denlinger-Apte, Lauren R Pacek, Neal L Benowitz, Dorothy K Hatsukami, Eric C Donny, Matthew J Carpenter, Tracy T Smith

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac118/6582320

 

"The prevalence of current use across all TNP [tobacco and/or nicotine-containing products] in the general adult population was 18.5% (95% confidence interval 17.2-19.5%), with 17.5% (16.4-18.6%) for cigarette smoking and 1.8% (1.4-2.2%) for IQOS use. With regard to the distribution of patterns of use in the IQOS user survey, the majority (63.4% [61.2-65.6%]) were exclusive users of IQOS, followed by 20.6% (18.7-22.5%) of individuals who reported dual use of IQOS and cigarettes. Conclusions: In Japan, cigarette smoking remains the most prevalent way of consuming TNP; however, IQOS is being adopted by a growing number of adult Japanese smokers."

 

Prevalence and patterns of tobacco and/or nicotine product use in Japan (2017) after the launch of a heated tobacco product ( IQOS ®): a cross-sectional study

F1000Res. 2021 Jun 25;10:504. eCollection 2021.

Esther F Afolalu, Peter Langer, Karina Fischer, Steve Roulet, Pierpaolo Magnani

Competing interests: All authors are/were employees of Philip Morris International. Philip Morris International is the sole source of funding and sponsor of this research. IQOS is manufactured by Philip Morris Products S.A.

https://f1000research.com/articles/10-504/v2

 

Note: Open Access tobacco industry research.

 

"The COVID-19 pandemic was not associated with an increase in the number of women attending smoking cessation clinics, (2020-2021 n=46 [40.8%] of 110); compared to (2019-2020 n=44 [30.9%] of 142 referred pregnant women pre-pandemic) p=0.061. Eighty-two women utilised NRT [nicotine replacement therapy] to help them stop smoking and the frequency of NRT use did not change during the pandemic (2019-2020 n=39, 2020-2021 n=43; p=0.420)."

 

The impact of COVID-19 on smoking cessation in pregnancy

J Perinat Med. 2022 May 10. Online ahead of print.

Nadja Bednarczuk, Emma E Williams, Gareth Absalom, Judith Olaitan-Salami, Anne Greenough

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jpm-2022-0178/html

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jpm-2022-0178/pdf

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"Androgenetic alopecia is thought to be caused by twin factors of heredity and androgens. Other factors such as environmental factors are also regarded as important, and smoking is believed to be one of them. This review shows that smoking may have a significant role to play in androgenetic alopecia. There is also some evidence to support a relation between amount of smoking and severity of baldness and also age of onset of AGA. There are a number of plausible mechanisms through which smoking could affect hair loss. The dermatologist should therefore advise patients of AGA to stop smoking."

 

Role of Smoking in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review

Int J Trichology. Mar-Apr 2022;14(2):41-48. Epub 2022 Apr 4.

Yatra Kavadya, Venkataram Mysore

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9069908/

 

Note: Open Access.

 

Tobacco industry is “talking trash” on environmental harms of production, say WHO and watchdog

BMJ 2022;377:o1211 (Published 13 May 2022)

Luke Taylor

https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1211  

 

"Cigarette filters are composed of more than 15,000 fibres strands which can be detached in a MF [microfiber] size range or eventually get fragmented into lower sizes. This MF can be introduced to the trophic chain and can be easily ingested by a wide range of organism including human. Therefore, a new form of pollution from cigarettes is added to the environment with proven damage to ecosystems and therefore to humans. This pollution cannot be ignored and should be treated by the scientific and social communities as an important MP [microplastics] source that harms our planet and its biodiversity."

 

Tobacco as a Source of Microplastics. Tobacco and Environment: World No Tobacco Day 2022

Arch Bronconeumol. 2022 May 2;S0300-2896(22)00327-1. Online ahead of print.

José Ignacio de Granda-Orive, Segismundo Solano-Reina, Carlos A Jiménez-Ruiz

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300289622003271

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"Addiction, chemicals, negative health symptoms and effects, and cigarette comparison themes were associated with higher PME [perceived message effectiveness], as were graphic images and warning symbols. Industry targeting, environmental impact, flavour themes, images of food and people’s faces were associated with lower PME, as were hashtags, statistics and first-person language or the word ‘teen’. Most elements were not associated with appeal, but ads with a flavour theme were associated with increased vaping appeal."

 

Perceived effectiveness of objective elements of vaping prevention messages among adolescents

Tobacco Control Published Online First: 09 May 2022.

Marcella H Boynton, Nora Sanzo, Whitney Brothers, Alex Kresovich, Erin L Sutfin, Paschal Sheeran, Seth M Noar

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/08/tobaccocontrol-2021-057151

 

Note: Open Access.

 

Related PR:

 

Effective anti-vaping advertisements can have the greatest impact on teens

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220510/Effective-anti-vaping-advertisements-can-have-the-greatest-impact-on-teens.aspx

 

"In 47 lower-middle, upper-middle and high-income countries from 2015 to 2018, ~1 in 12 (8.6%) adolescents reported vaping in the past 30 days, but prevalence of frequent vaping was low (1 in 60; 1.7%). A higher tobacco tax was associated with higher adolescent vaping."

 

Association between the implementation of tobacco control policies and adolescent vaping in 44 lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income countries

Addiction

First published: 11 May 2022

Gary C. K. Chan,Coral Gartner,Carmen Lim,Tianze Sun,Wayne Hall,Jason Connor,Daniel Stjepanović, Janni Leung

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.15892

 

Related PR:

 

New study finds global adolescent vaping is low

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-05-global-adolescent-vaping.html

 

"Younger adolescents 12-15 years had lower tobacco use compared to 16-17 year olds and less stable classes. In the 16-17 year group, there were five unique trajectories of cigarette smoking, including a Persistent High Frequency class. Four e-cigarette use trajectories were identified; but not a persistent use class. Shared predictors of class membership for cigarettes and e-cigarettes included mental health problems, other tobacco use, marijuana use, and poorer academic achievement… Conclusions: There was no evidence that initiation with e-cigarettes as the first product tried was associated with cigarette progression (nor cigarettes as first product and e-cigarette progression)."

 

Predictors of e-cigarette and cigarette use trajectory classes from early adolescence to emerging adulthood across four years (2013-2017) of the PATH Study

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac119.

Published: 11 May 2022

Cassandra A Stanton, Zhiqun Tang, Eva Sharma, Elizabeth Seaman, Lisa D Gardner, Marushka L Silveira, Dorothy Hatsukami, Hannah R Day, K Michael Cummings, Maciej L Goniewicz, Jean Limpert, Colm Everard, Maansi Bansal-Travers, Bridget Ambrose, Heather L Kimmel, Nicolette Borek, Wilson M Compton, Andrew J Hyland, Jennifer L Pearson

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac119/6584494

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"Before instituting a ban on all non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors (which might have unintended consequences) or a cap on nicotine concentration or limiting ease of access to e-cigarettes for adult smokers, we believe that alternative approaches should be carefully considered to avoid negative ramifications of policy decisions, especially if e-cigarettes have the potential to reduce cigarette related mortality."

 

Correspondence

Response to: Appropriate policy implications of the fact that high content and flavored e-cigarettes have higher abuse liability

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac120.

Published: 10 May 2022

Mari S Gades, BA, Dorothy K Hatsukami

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac120/6583153

 

Related N&TR Correspondence & Referenced Study:

 

Appropriate Policy Implications of the Fact That High Content and Flavored E-Cigarettes Have Higher Abuse Liability

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac089/6562583

The Role of Nicotine and Flavor in the Abuse Potential and Appeal of Electronic Cigarettes for Adult Current and Former Cigarette and Electronic Cigarette Users: A Systematic Review

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac073/6550857

 

Note: Correspondence Open Access, study available upon request.

 

"This study used ITS [interrupted time series] analysis to examine the impact of vaping introduction on smoking in six high-income jurisdictions [in four Canadian provinces, United Kingdom and Australia] that have adopted varied regulatory approaches to vaping. Our findings showed that in most, but not all, settings where policies enable substitution of cigarettes with e-cigarettes, vaping introduction has accelerated the rate of decline in smoking, whereas in settings that restrict the uptake of e-cigarettes or do not permit the use of nicotine in e-cigarettes, vaping introduction has slowed the secular rate of decline in smoking."

 

Impact of vaping introduction on cigarette smoking in six jurisdictions with varied regulatory approaches to vaping: an interrupted time series analysis

BMJ Open 2022;12:e058324.

Online issue publication May 02, 2022

Daphne C Wu, Beverley M Essue, Prabhat Jha

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/5/e058324

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/12/5/e058324.full.pdf

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"In the UK, the regulatory authorities, the Royal Colleges, and learned societies (with the exception of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health), are immobilised. They are ignoring the tactics of a resurgent industry that seems to be targeting children and younger people, increasing their exposure to nicotine (nicotine alone has significant toxicity, including to the fetus) and several other inhalants of unknown toxicity. The tobacco industry has a record of duplicitous suppression of data; yet, with their promotion of ENDS [electronic nicotine delivery systems] they are regaining ground they previously lost with tobacco cigarettes. At the least, ENDS should be subject to the same legislation as tobacco, and those who supply them to under-age children should be subject to stringent penalties."

 

Comment

E-cigarette company tactics in sports advertising

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine

Published: May 11, 2022

Stephen Fowler, Jayesh Bhatt, Sarah Brown, Louise Fleming, Sarah Mayell, Ian Sinha, Andrew Bush

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(22)00166-7/fulltext

 

"Perceived stress predicted e-cigarette progression and continuation among current users among a diverse cohort of youth and young adults in Texas; perceived stress did not predict e-cigarette initiation among never users. Two study hypotheses (i.e., progression; continuation) were supported while one hypothesis (i.e., initiation) was not supported."

 

Perceived stress and E-cigarette use during emerging adulthood: A longitudinal examination of initiation, progression, and continuation

Prev Med. 2022 May 11;107080. Online ahead of print.

Dale S Mantey, Stephanie I Clendennen, Aslesha Sumbe, Anna V Wilkinson, Melissa B Harrell

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091743522001281

 

"The ecological data underscore that menthol in cigarettes continues to stall progress in reducing cigarette smoking, and menthol capsules have likely played a role in overall usage trends. Given its documented public health harms and high rates of use among marginalised populations,10 eliminating menthol as a characterising flavour from the cigarette market remains a priority. Moreover, menthol bans must also address innovative delivery methods, such as flavour capsules."

 

Letter

Impact of menthol capsule cigarettes on menthol and non-menthol cigarette consumption in the USA, 2008–2020

Tobacco Control Published Online First: 10 May 2022.

Cristine D Delnevo, Daniel P Giovenco, Andrea C Villanti

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/10/tobaccocontrol-2022-057422

 

"The 2000 Canadian GWL [graphic warning label] policy reduced smoking prevalence overall, with similar reductions for males and females and across education levels. The impact of the Canadian GWLs in reducing smoking prevalence did not reduce differences by sex or education. Although beneficial for all smokers, GWLs may not serve to decrease existing disparities, especially those by socioeconomic status… Our findings confirm existing studies that the 2000 implementation of GWLs in Canada was significantly associated with an overall reduction in smoking prevalence in Canada compared to the US."

 

The differential impact of the 2000 Canadian Graphic Warning Label policy on smoking prevalence by sex and education: A Difference-In-Difference-In-Difference Model

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac122.

Published: 10 May 2022

Bukola Usidame, Gang Meng, James F Thrasher, Mary E Thompson, Geoffrey T Fong, Nancy L Fleischer

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac122/6583382

 

Also:

 

Gender Differences in Reasons for Using Electronic Cigarettes: A Systematic Review

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac108/6584717

Characterization of salivary progesterone in female smokers

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac121/6582861

 

"A recent Lancet Editorial about the slow pace of tobacco control around the world singled out the UK as a leader in reducing the number of smokers. It has accomplished this feat, the Editorial stated, through measures such as increased tobacco taxes, comprehensive smoke-free laws in public spaces, and health warnings on product packages. Yet, there was no mention of alternative nicotine delivery devices, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products… From September, 2017 to October, 2021, I was President and CEO of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, a non-profit entity funded by Philip Morris International, with a mandate to support scientific research and development in the battle against smoking."

 

Correspondence

Tobacco harm reduction matters

The Lancet

VOLUME 399, ISSUE 10338, P1864-1865, MAY 14, 2022

Published: May 14, 2022

Darek (sic) Yach

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00834-0/fulltext

 

Also:

 

Tobacco control: getting to the finish line

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00835-2/fulltext

 

Referenced Lancet Editorial:

 

Tobacco control: far from the finish line

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02650-7/fulltext

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"Smokers are at higher risk of uro-oncological cancers, infertility, erectile dysfunction, reduced urinary tract function, postoperative complications, and side effects during systemic therapy. Most patients are aware of the link between smoking and lung cancer, yet many urology patients are unaware of the link between smoking and urological illness and postoperative complications. Education initiatives by urologists could address this knowledge gap.. In summary, we hope that the European Association of Urology and other organizations will implement a strong recommendation in urology guidelines to include counseling on smoking cessation as a standard of care. Smoking cessation is one of the most effective interventions urologists can offer patients."

 

Editorial

Why and How Smoking Cessation Must Be Implemented in Urology Clinics as a Standard of Care

Eur Urol. 2022 May 4;S0302-2838(22)02263-1. Online ahead of print.

Andres Affentranger, Richard S Matulewicz, Christian D Fankhauser

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0302283822022631

 

"The results of this cohort study suggest that a significant proportion of patients with HNSCC [head and neck squamous cell carcinoma] who are daily smokers at the time of diagnosis continue to smoke after treatment. Smokers with HNSCC who successfully quit smoking were most likely to do so in the first 6 months after treatment, which could potentially serve as a preferred window for smoking cessation interventions. These data highlight the need for inclusion of aggressive smoking cessation intervention in head and neck cancer care pathways."

 

Persistent Tobacco Use After Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.

Published online May 12, 2022.

Tyler Van Heest, Nathan Rubin, Samir S. Khariwala https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/2792443

 

Related coverage:

 

Three-fifths of smokers diagnosed with head and neck cancer STILL used cigarettes two years after treatment, study finds

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-10809917/Most-smokers-head-neck-cancer-puffed-cigarettes-two-years-treatment.html

 

 

A smoke-free generation: New Zealand's tobacco ban

The Lancet

VOLUME 399, ISSUE 10339, P1930-1931, MAY 21, 2022

Chris McCall

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00925-4/fulltext

https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2822%2900925-4

 

Note: Open Access upon registration.

 

"Despite the current no-tobacco advertising policies, both PMI’s [Philip Morris International's] and Altria’s corporate image campaigns have run extensively in major news outlets (in both physical and digital formats), including the New York Times and Washington Post… They feature high-ranking corporate executives advocating for company-sponsored research coupled with claims that these companies are aligned with public health objectives. Message placement in prominent news outlets suggests a deliberate attempt to position their sponsored content alongside news reporting while helping to ensure message exposure among an influential audience… The extent to which these ‘corporate promotion’ ads have infiltrated major news outlets is concerning, raising questions about how objective media outlets should treat sponsored industry content."

 

Ad watch

Tobacco industry advertising: efforts to shift public perception of big tobacco with paid media in the USA

Tobacco Control Published Online First: 16 May 2022.

Robin Koval, Nicole Dorrler, Barbara Schillo

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/08/tobaccocontrol-2021-057189

 

"Our study demonstrates majority support for regulations controlling e-cigarettes in Australia. Parents generally favoured wide-ranging restrictions that could reduce adolescent e-cigarette use. Almost all parents support a ban on marketing and advertising of e-cigarettes to teenagers thus recognising the reach and influence of product appeal, placement and price on this age group. Australian governments have an opportunity to help prevent more widespread e-cigarette use and protect the health of adolescents by limiting their exposure to e-cigarette promotions."

 

Parents support strong restrictions controlling e-cigarette use in Australia: findings from a national survey

Tobacco Control Published Online First: 17 May 2022.

Mary-Anne Measey, Vikram Palit, Monsurul Hoq, Moya Vandeleur, Anthea Rhodes

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/16/tobaccocontrol-2021-057074

 

Also:

 

Analysis of mainstream emissions, secondhand emissions and the environmental impact of IQOS waste: a systematic review on IQOS that accounts for data source

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/12/tobaccocontrol-2021-056986

Place-based inequities in cigarette smoking across the USA

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/17/tobaccocontrol-2022-057293

 

"Due to the low return of saliva samples, validated prolonged abstinence rates in the intention-to-treat analysis were low (39 of 571 (6.8%) versus 25 of 569 (4.4%) in the e-cigarette and NRT [nicotine replacement therapy] arms, respectively) and did not differ significantly between the two study arms… In summary, in the unadjusted primary analysis there was insufficient evidence to confidently demonstrate that e-cigarettes are more effective than NRT in helping pregnant women to stop smoking. The effects of e-cigarettes appear to have been masked by e-cigarette use in the NRT arm. When abstinent participants using non-allocated products were excluded, e-cigarettes were markedly more effective than patches in all abstinence outcomes. "

 

Electronic cigarettes versus nicotine patches for smoking cessation in pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial

Nature Medicine (2022)

Published: 16 May 2022

Peter Hajek, Dunja Przulj, Francesca Pesola, Chris Griffiths, Robert Walton, Hayden McRobbie, Tim Coleman, Sarah Lewis, Rachel Whitemore, Miranda Clark, Michael Ussher, Lesley Sinclair, Emily Seager, Sue Cooper, Linda Bauld, Felix Naughton, Peter Sasieni, Isaac Manyonda & Katie Myers Smith

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01808-0

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01808-0.pdf

 

Note: Open Access.

 

Related coverage:

 

E-cigarettes ‘as safe as nicotine patches’ for pregnant smokers trying to quit

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/may/16/e-cigarettes-as-safe-as-nicotine-patches-for-pregnant-smokers-trying-to-quit

Vaping may be an effective way to quit smoking during pregnancy

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320515-vaping-may-be-an-effective-way-to-quit-smoking-during-pregnancy/

 

"We did not find a significant difference in the cardiovascular risk of exclusive e-cigarette use compared with nonuse of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, although analyses were limited by a small number of CVD [cardiovascular disease] events in e-cigarette users. Dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes was associated with a significantly increased risk of CVD compared with nonuse. The cardiovascular risk of dual use did not differ from the risk among those exclusively smoking cigarettes."

 

Letter

E-cigarette Use and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Longitudinal Analysis of the PATH Study, 2013-2019

Circulation. 2022;0

Originally published 6 May 2022

Jonathan B. Berlowitz, Wubin Xie, Alyssa F. Harlow, Naomi M. Hamburg, Michael J. Blaha, Aruni Bhatnagar, Emelia J. Benjamin and Andrew C. Stokes

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057369  

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epdf/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057369

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"We analyzed Global Adult Tobacco Survey data in Bangladesh, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine, Turkey, Uruguay, and Viet Nam during 2014–2018… EC [E-cigarette] use was low in most countries. “Dual use” was common among current smokers and the quit ratio was higher among ECs users… Nevertheless, comprehensive EC regulatory policies should be implemented to prevent the escalation of EC use by targeting population subgroups such as young adults, educated and wealthier individuals."

 

Awareness About and E-Cigarette Use Among Adults in 15 Low- and Middle-Income Countries, 2014–2018 Estimates From Global Adult Tobacco Surveys

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntab269.

Published: 21 May 2022

Chandrashekhar T Sreeramareddy, Anusha Manoharan

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntab269/6590320

 

"Following JUUL’s removal of mint in November 2019, JUUL’s market share dropped from over 66% in Florida and the United States to 37.1% (Florida) and 55.1% (United States). In January 2020, the second leading brands were Puff Bar (15.0%) in Florida and Vuse (18.1%) in the United States. Mint market share decreased and share of all other flavor categories increased, particularly menthol and concept. Total ENDS sales increased in Florida but decreased in the United States. Average prices of ENDS devices decreased. Conclusions: While JUUL’s actions led to a decline in its sales, Puff Bar emerged and menthol and concept flavors experienced growth."

 

JUUL’s 2019 Removal of Mint-Flavored Pods and Changes to the Retail Environment of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems in Florida and the United States

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac128.

Published: 15 May 2022

Jennifer Gaber, Doris G Gammon, Youn Ok Lee, James Nonnemaker, Brittany Young, Annice Kim, Lauren Porter

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac128/6586051

 

Also:

Adolescents’ understanding of smoking and vaping risk language: Cognitive interviews to inform scale development

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac127/6585952

Secondhand tobacco smoke and functional impairments in older adults living in the community

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac131/6586052

A randomized pilot of a tailored smoking cessation quitline intervention for individuals who smoke and vape

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac129/6586250

 

"How we define “current use” of tobacco and nicotine delivery products changes our estimates of how individuals transition to, between, and from different patterns of use. We show that the robustness of transition estimates to whether or not non-established users are included as current users and to different frequency-of-use threshold depends in part on whether low-frequency users are categorized as non-current users or as a distinct category. Our results emphasize the importance of intentional definitions of product use that reflect the larger goals of public health and tobacco control."

 

The impact of current tobacco product use definitions on estimates of transitions between cigarette and ENDS use

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac132.

Published: 19 May 2022

Andrew F Brouwer, David T Levy, Jihyoun Jeon, Evelyn Jimenez-Mendoza, Luz María Sanchez-Romero, Ritesh Mistry, Rafael Meza

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac132/6589520

 

Also:

 

The unhealthy association between smoking, vaping, and other drug use

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac130/6588418

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"The hardening hypothesis suggests that tobacco control activities influence an individual’s ability to quit, and those who find it challenging to quit are those who remain smokers. Reviews and papers have attempted to demystify this hypothesis, and the debate continues. Adding to the continuing discussions, a recently-published umbrella and systematic review by Harris et al. (2022) strongly opposed the existence of the hardening hypothesis, after conducting a wide-ranging qualitative synthesis of the evidence pertinent to various hardening constructs and indicators. However, several key methodological issues may have ushered a deficient—or worse, unqualified—interpretation of the evidence base."

 

Correspondence

The Hardening Hypothesis – Further Testing is Still Required

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac125.

Published: 13 May 2022

Isabella Steffensen, Red Thaddeus D Miguel, Julien Carlone

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac125/6585632

 

Referenced N&TR study:

 

Smokers increasingly motivated and able to quit as smoking prevalence falls: umbrella and systematic review of evidence relevant to the 'hardening hypothesis', considering transcendence of manufactured doubt

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac055/6542043

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"Ever/current [Hungarian] HTP [heated tobacco product] users presented misperceptions about the harms of HTPs, e-cigarettes, and NRT. They underestimated the potential health benefits of NRT and had distorted harm perceptions about HTPs and e-cigarettes. Public education about the relative harms of different nicotine and tobacco products is urgently needed."

 

Perceived harm of heated tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and nicotine replacement therapy compared with conventional cigarettes among ever and current heated tobacco users

Addict Behav Rep. 2022 May 16;15:100432. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Melinda Pénzes, Tamás Joó, Róbert Urbán

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235285322200027X

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"We analyzed data from Wave 3 (Sept-Dec 2019) and Wave 5 (Sept-Dec 2020) of a 2-year, 5-wave longitudinal study of young adults across six US metropolitan areas… Of W3 cigarette non-users (n=1693), 5.0% (n=85) initiated cigarettes at W5; predictors of initiation included younger age, lower perceived smoking risk, lifetime cigarette and e-cigarette use, and W3 e-cigarette use. Of W3 e-cigarette non-users (n=1522), 6.3% (n=96) initiated e-cigarettes at W5; predictors included younger age, less news exposure, lifetime cigarette and e-cigarette use, and W3 cigarette use. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need to address cigarette and e-cigarette co-use and related risk perceptions in prevention and cessation interventions."

 

Changes in cigarette and e-cigarette use among US young adults from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic: News exposure and risk perceptions as potential predictors

Tob Prev Cessat. 2022 May 6;8:18. eCollection 2022.

Breesa Bennett, Katelyn F Romm, Carla J Berg

http://www.tobaccopreventioncessation.com/Changes-in-cigarette-and-e-cigarette-use-among-US-young-nadults-from-before-to-during,148245,0,2.html

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"In 2020, the prevalence of middle and high school students reporting “no” or “little” harm (vs. “some” or “a lot”) was 20.1% for e-cigarettes, 17.4% for hookahs, 14.6% for cigars, 13.5% for smokeless tobacco, and 11.0% for cigarettes. During 2016–2020, perceptions of “no” or “little” harm decreased for e-cigarettes, increased for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, and exhibited nonlinear changes for hookahs. Discussion: Most youth are aware of tobacco product harms, but opportunities exist to educate youth about the harms of nondaily tobacco product use."

 

Tobacco Product Harm Perceptions Among US Middle and High School Students, 2016-2020

J Adolesc Health. 2022 May 19;S1054-139X(22)00386-X. Online ahead of print.

Emily Glidden, Nikki A Hawkins, Ahmed Jamal, Teresa W Wang

https://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(22)00386-X/fulltext

 

"The implementation of CEASE [Clinical effort against secondhand smoke exposure] in practices was influenced by the adaptability and complexity of the intervention, the needs of patients and their families, the resources available to practices to support the implementation of CEASE, other competing priorities at the practices, the cultures of practices, and clinicians' and office staffs' knowledge and beliefs about family-centered tobacco control."

 

A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Implementation of Tobacco Control in Pediatric Practices

J Smok Cessat. 2022 May 5;2022:4156982. eCollection 2022.

Emara Nabi-Burza, Jonathan P Winickoff, Jeremy E Drehmer, Maurice P Zeegers, Bethany Hipple Walters

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/josc/2022/4156982/

https://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/josc/2022/4156982.pdf

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"In the French context, the new plain packaging of tobacco products probably had an impact on smokers’ perception of tobacco by increasing the embarrassment they felt when they took out their pack of cigarettes in plain sight. It also influenced the motivation to quit smoking, and more generally, it could contribute to the denormalization of tobacco."

 

Plain packaging on tobacco products in France: Effectiveness on smokers’ attitudes one year after implementation

Tob. Induc. Dis. 2022;20(April):35

Anne Pasquereau, Romain Guignard, Raphaël Andler, Karine Gallopel-Morvan, Viêt Nguyen-Thanh

http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Plain-packaging-on-tobacco-products-in-France-Effectiveness-non-smokers-attitudes,146600,0,2.html

http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/pdf-146600-74381?filename=Plain%20packaging%20on.pdf

 

Note: Open Access.

 

From smoking to vaping: a new environmental threat?

Lancet Respir Med

Published: May 23, 2022

Jérémie Pourchez, Clément Mercier, Valérie Forest

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(22)00187-4/fulltext

https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2213-2600%2822%2900187-4

 

Note: Open Access.

 

“Globally, in 2019 there were an estimated 2.5 million cancer-related deaths (95% UI: 2.3 to 2.7) and 56.4 million DALYs [disability-adjusted life years] (51.3 to 61.7) attributable to smoking. The global age-standardized death and DALY rates of cancers attributable to smoking per 100,000 decreased by 23.0% (-29.5 to -15.8) and 28.6% (-35.1 to -21.5), respectively, over the period 1990-2019. Central Europe (50.4 [44.4 to 57.6]) and Western Sub-Saharan Africa (6.7 [5.7 to 8.0]) had the highest and lowest age-standardized death rates, respectively, for cancers attributable to smoking. In 2019, the age-standardized DALY rate of cancers attributable to smoking was highest in Greenland (2224.0 [1804.5 to 2678.8]) and lowest in Ethiopia (72.2 [51.2 to 98.0]). Also in 2019, the global number of DALYs was highest in the 65-69 age group and there was a positive association between SDI and the age-standardized DALY rate. Conclusions: The results of this study clearly illustrate that renewed efforts are required to increase utilization of evidence-based smoking cessation support in order to reduce the burden of smoking-related diseases.”

 

Global, regional, and national burden of cancers attributable to tobacco smoking in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019

Cancer Med. 2022 May 27. Online ahead of print.

Saeid Safiri, Seyed Aria Nejadghaderi, Morteza Abdollahi, Kristin Carson-Chahhoud, Jay S Kaufman, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi, Maziar Moradi-Lakeh, Mohammad Ali Mansournia, Mark J M Sullman, Amir Almasi-Hashiani, Ali Taghizadieh, Gary S Collins, Ali-Asghar Kolahi

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cam4.4647

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cam4.4647

 

Note: Open Access.

 

"This cross-sectional study of 6131 US residents aged 13 to 40 years found that 25.9% had ever used a nonnicotine e-cigarette, 16.7% had used one in the past 30 days, and 12.4% had used one in the past 7 days; 18.8% had ever co-used nonnicotine and nicotine e-cigarettes. The most-used flavors were sweet, dessert, or candy flavors; fruit flavors; and mint or menthol flavors; most common ingredients were tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, melatonin, caffeine, and essential oils. Meaning: These findings suggest that a significant proportion of US residents are using nonnicotine flavored e-cigarettes marketed with unsupported health claims."

 

Use Patterns, Flavors, Brands, and Ingredients of Nonnicotine e-Cigarettes Among Adolescents, Young Adults, and Adults in the United States

JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(5):e2216194.

May 25, 2022

Shivani Mathur Gaiha, Crystal Lin, Lauren Kass Lempert, Bonnie Halpern-Felsher

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2792671

 

Note: Open Access.

 

“In August 2020, 78.7% of vapers in the United States reported using a flavor prohibited in cartridges or pods, versus 86.3% in Canada (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.25, 1.40) and 79.8% in England (AOR = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.78, 1.55). Disposable e-cigarettes (exempt from flavor restrictions) increased to a greater extent among vapers in the United States (13.2% to 36.8%) versus Canada (7.7% to 14.2%; AOR = 2.01; 95% CI = 1.33, 3.04) and England (10.8% to 16.4%; AOR = 2.33; 95% CI = 1.52, 3.57). Puff Bar (disposable) emerged as the most popular brand in the United States.”

 

E-Cigarette Flavors, Devices, and Brands Used by Youths Before and After Partial Flavor Restrictions in the United States: Canada, England, and the United States, 2017-2020

Am J Public Health. 2022 May 27;e1-e11. Online ahead of print.

David Hammond, Jessica L Reid, Robin Burkhalter, Maansi Bansal Travers, Shannon Gravelly, Andy Hyland, Karin Kasza, Ann McNeill

https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306780

 

Related AJPH Editorials:

 

E-Cigarette Flavors, Devices, and Brand Preferences Among Youths in Canada, England, and the United States: The Value and Challenges of Comparing International Survey Data

https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306903

The Food and Drug Administration's e-Cigarette Flavor Restrictions Have Not Gone Far Enough to Curb the Youth e-Cigarette Use Epidemic

https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306822

 

"Current exclusive and dual/poly e-cigarette use, with 0.2% and 3.5% prevalence in 2015–2018 [National Health Interview Survey data], were associated with higher odds of reporting poor health status than never tobacco users. Poor health status was associated with higher odds of using the four healthcare services and a greater number of ER [Emergency Room] and doctor visits. Annual healthcare expenditures attributable to all current e-cigarette use was $15.1 billion ($2024 per user) in 2018, including $1.3 billion attributable to exclusive e-cigarette use ($1796 per user) and $13.8 billion attributable to dual/poly e-cigarette use ($2050 per user). Conclusion: Adult current e-cigarette use was associated with substantial excess healthcare utilisation and expenditures."

 

Healthcare utilisation and expenditures attributable to current e-cigarette use among US adults

Tobacco Control Published Online First: 23 May 2022.

Yingning Wang, Hai-Yen Sung, James Lightwood, Tingting Yao, Wendy B Max

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/04/tobaccocontrol-2021-057058

 

Note: Open Access.

 

Related PR:

 

Using e-cigarettes may lead to higher use of and spending on health services

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-05-e-cigarettes-higher-health.html

 

“This review highlights how mitochondrial damage caused by inhaled intoxicants increases ROS [reactive oxygen species] production, apoptosis, reduces respiration, alters mitochondrial membrane potential, and destroys the equilibrium of fission/fusion effects. These detrimental changes contribute to aggravated inflammatory pathways and various disease pathogeneses… The intimate connection between mitochondrial morphological changes and dysfunction impairs multiple pathways and alters downstream signaling. Interestingly, these toxic changes vary based on the chemical composition of different e-liquids.”

 

Alterations of Mitochondrial Network by Cigarette Smoking and E-Cigarette Vaping

Cells. 2022 May 19;11(10):1688.

Manasa Kanithi, Sunil Junapudi, Syed Islamuddin Shah, Alavala Matta Reddy, Ghanim Ullah, Bojjibabu Chidipi

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/10/1688/htm

 

Note: Open Access.

 

“About 17.1% of participants reported ever e-cigarette use. Of never users, 17.5% were susceptible to e-cigarette use. E-cigarette advertising exposure was mainly through online sources (31.5%). Most participants (59.4%) perceived e-cigarettes as equally or more harmful than cigarettes… Regulatory actions are needed to address e-cigarette marketing, particularly on the Internet.”

 

The Mediating Effect of E-Cigarette Harm Perception in the Relationship between E-Cigarette Advertising Exposure and E-Cigarette Use

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 20;19(10):6215.

Nan Jiang, Shu Xu, Le Li, Omar El-Shahawy, Nicholas Freudenberg, Jenni A Shearston, Scott E Sherman

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/10/6215

 

Also:

 

Nicotine Dependence from Different E-Cigarette Devices and Combustible Cigarettes among US Adolescent and Young Adult Users

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/10/5846

Do Budget Cigarettes Emit More Particles? An Aerosol Spectrometric Comparison of Particulate Matter Concentrations between Private-Label Cigarettes and More Expensive Brand-Name Cigarettes

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/10/5920

Association between Fathers' Use of Heated Tobacco Products and Urinary Cotinine Concentrations in Their Spouses and Children

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/10/6275

 

Note: Open Access.

 

“We combined data from two cross-sectional samples of youth and young adult (15-24) participants of a monthly surveillance study (data collected April and June 2021)… Over a third of the sample (37.9%) reported increasing e-cigarette use, while 28.9% reported decreasing use, and 33.1% reported no change… Conclusions: This study provides recent data on how the ongoing and evolving COVID-19 pandemic has impacted youth and young adults’ e-cigarette use. Findings identify subpopulations that may benefit from e-cigarette prevention interventions, as well as insights that may inform the content and delivery of such interventions.”

 

Changes in e-cigarette use among youth and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights into risk perceptions and reasons for changing use behavior

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac136.

Published: 26 May 2022

Morgane Bennett, Jessica Speer, Nathaniel Taylor, Tesfa Alexander

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac136/6593856

 

"Smoking increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in this sample of adults from vulnerable populations, even while most adopted protective health measures to prevent infection. Unemployment and anxiety might identify those at greatest risk for increases in tobacco use."

 

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Smoking Among Vulnerable Populations

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac135.

Published: 23 May 2022

Rhiannon C Wiley, Anthony C Oliver, Miranda B Snow, Janice Y Bunn, Anthony J Barrows, Jennifer W Tidey, Dustin C Lee, Stacey C Sigmon, Diann E Gaalema, Sarah H Heil, Catherine Markesich, Andrea C Villanti, Stephen T Higgins

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac135/6590894

 

Also:

 

Associations of California’s Tobacco 21 Minimum Sales Age Law with Tobacco Use among Sexual Minority Adolescents: A Trends Analysis

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac134/6590853

Optimum Urine Cotinine and NNAL Levels to Distinguish Smokers from Non-Smokers by the Changes in Tobacco Control Policy in Korea from 2008 to 2018

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac133/6591481

 

“Across time, NA [negative affect] peaked 1 week post-quit, PA [positive affect] did not change, and craving declined. Less steep rises in NA (indirect effect 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.30) and lower mean craving at 1 week post-quit (CI: 0.06 to 0.50) were mediators of the relationship between varenicline and higher cessation rates at the end of treatment. PA was associated with cessation, but was not a significant mediator. Conclusions: These results partially support the hypothesis that varenicline improves smoking cessation rates by attenuating changes in specific psychological processes and supported negative affect and craving as plausible treatment mechanisms of varenicline.”

 

Evaluating Treatment Mechanisms of Varenicline: Mediation by Affect and Craving

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntac138.

Published: 26 May 2022

Sarah S Tonkin, Craig Colder, Martin C Mahoney, Gary E Swan, Paul Cinciripini, Robert Schnoll, Tony P George, Rachel F Tyndale, Larry W Hawk, Jr

https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntac138/6593861

 

Note: Open Access.

 

“Findings from our within-subject study suggest that a cigarette displaying the text 'cancer, heart disease, stroke' and a drab dark brown coloured cigarette are most dissuasive for Dutch non-smoking adolescents. Whether dissuasive cigarettes reduce appeal, reduce product trial, or increase perceptions of harm compared to a regular cigarette should be further examined in larger between-subject studies.”

 

Non-smoking adolescents' perceptions of dissuasive cigarettes

Addict Behav Rep. 2022 May 18;15:100433. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Dirk Jan A van Mourik, Gera E Nagelhout, Nikita L Poole, Marc C Willemsen, Math J J M Candel, Crawford Moodie, Bas van den Putte, James F Thrasher, Hein de Vries

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853222000281

 

Note: Open Access.