scholarly journals Beliefs about the Harmfulness of Heated Tobacco Products Compared with Combustible Cigarettes and Their Effectiveness for Smoking Cessation among Korean Adults

Author(s):  
Seung Hee Kim ◽  
Seo Young Kang ◽  
Hong-Jun Cho

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) have been widely used in Korea since their introduction in 2017. In this study, we investigated the perceptions of their relative harmfulness and smoking cessation effects. We performed an online survey in 7000 Koreans in 2018 (2300 males and 4700 females aged 20–69 years) by matching their age, sex, and provincial distribution. To investigate the factors causing HTPs to be perceived as less harmful than combustible cigarettes (CCs) and helpful for smoking cessation, we used multivariable logistic regression analyses. HTPs were less harmful than CCs in 16.8% of participants, particularly among HTP-only users and dual and triple users of HTPs, electronic cigarettes (ECs), or CCs than among CC-only users, those who were aged ≤ 34 years, males, and those with higher incomes. HTPs were reportedly helpful for smoking cessation in 11.2% of participants. Similar perceptions were more likely among HTP-only users, as well as dual and triple users than among CC-only users and adults with higher education/incomes. Although Korean adults generally had negative perceptions of the harmfulness and smoking cessation effects of HTPs compared with CCs, dual and triple users were more likely to have positive perceptions. Monitoring the use of multiple tobacco products and HTPs is a new challenge for Korean policymakers.

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. s74-s77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinyoung Kim ◽  
Hyunjae Yu ◽  
Sungkyu Lee ◽  
Yu-Jin Paek

IntroductionPhilip Morris International introduced ‘IQOS’ to the Korean market in June 2017. To monitor the use of IQOS among young Korean adults, we identified their awareness, experience and current use of IQOS.MethodsThree months after the introduction of IQOS in Korea, we conducted an online survey with 228 general young adults, aged 19–24 years.Results87 participants (38.1%) were aware of IQOS, 13 (5.7%) were IQOS ever users and 8 (3.5%) were current IQOS users. All the current IQOS users were triple users of conventional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). There were no IQOS-only users and one IQOS ever user was a non-cigarette smoker. Among the eight current IQOS users who smoked 9.1 conventional cigarettes a day on average, four smoked 10–20 HEETS sticks a day. The current IQOS users decided to use IQOS because they believed it was less harmful or to stop smoking. The current conventional cigarette smokers were much more likely to be aware of IQOS (OR 4.496; 95% CI 2.185 to 9.250) and to be IQOS ever users (OR 11.649; 95% CI 1.024 to 132.564).ConclusionAwareness, experience and use of IQOS among young Korean adults were relatively higher than among their Japanese counterparts. Current IQOS users were more likely to smoke conventional cigarettes and/or e-cigarettes, which contradicts the tobacco industry’s claims that conventional cigarette smokers will switch to heated tobacco products. Until obtaining robust evidence concerning heated tobacco products, the government should regulate the tobacco industry’s marketing tactics and health claims.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-81
Author(s):  
Christina M. Rudin-Brown ◽  
Eve Mitsopoulos-Rubens ◽  
Michael G. Lenné

Random testing for alcohol and other drugs (AODs) in individuals who perform safety-sensitive activities as part of their aviation role was introduced in Australia in April 2009. One year later, an online survey (N = 2,226) was conducted to investigate attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge regarding random testing and to gauge perceptions regarding its effectiveness. Private, recreational, and student pilots were less likely than industry personnel to report being aware of the requirement (86.5% versus 97.1%), to have undergone testing (76.5% versus 96.1%), and to know of others who had undergone testing (39.9% versus 84.3%), and they had more positive attitudes toward random testing than industry personnel. However, logistic regression analyses indicated that random testing is more effective at deterring AOD use among industry personnel.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jee Hye Wee ◽  
Sung Woo Cho ◽  
Jeong-Whun Kim ◽  
Chae-Seo Rhee

Abstract Background Studies on the association between vitamin D levels and allergen sensitization have reported conflicting results. We aimed to evaluate the association between low vitamin D levels and sensitization to 59 aeroallergens in Korean adults. Methods We retrospectively reviewed serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) measurements of participants (n = 57,467) in a healthcare center between May 2003 and June 2020. Serum 25(OH)D levels were categorized as follows: severe deficiency (< 10 ng/mL), deficiency (10 to < 20 ng/mL), insufficiency (20 to < 30 ng/mL), and sufficiency (≥ 30 ng/mL). Among all subjects, 1277 simultaneously underwent the multiple allergen simultaneous test. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to estimate coefficients and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between serum vitamin D deficiency and aeroallergen sensitization after adjustment for potential confounders. Subgroup analyses were conducted for the types of aeroallergen (house dust mites, pollens, animal dander, foods, cockroach, and fungus). Results Vitamin D deficiency, defined as serum 25(OH)D level < 20 ng/mL, was noted in 56.4% of participants. There were significant differences in serum 25(OH)D levels according to sex, age, season, and bone mineral density (all P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analyses, serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in young subjects (adjusted coefficient [95% CI], 0.188 [0.101, 0.275]) and during winter (− 4.114 [− 6.528, − 1.699]). However, no significant association was observed between serum 25(OH)D levels and allergen sensitization (adjusted coefficients [95% CI], − 0.211 [− 1.989, 1.567], P = 0.816). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, male sex, young age, and winter season were significant risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. However, allergen sensitization showed no significant association with 25(OD)D levels after adjusting for confounders (adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.037 [0.642, 1.674] in insufficiency; 0.910 [0.573, 1.445] in deficiency; 0.869 [0.298, 2.539] in severe deficiency groups, P for trend = 0.334). There were consistent findings across subgroups regarding type of aeroallergen sensitized. Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent but was not significantly associated with aeroallergen sensitization in Korean adults. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first large-scale study to evaluate the association between vitamin D deficiency and sensitization to 59 different aeroallergens.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248845
Author(s):  
Syahrul Sazliyana Shaharir ◽  
Siew Huoy Chua ◽  
Rozita Mohd ◽  
Ruslinda Mustafar ◽  
Malehah Mohd Noh ◽  
...  

Avascular necrosis of bone (AVN) is increasingly being recognized as a complication of SLE and causes significant disability due to pain and mobility limitations. We studied the prevalence and factors associated with avascular necrosis (AVN) in a multiethnic SLE cohort. SLE patients who visited the outpatient clinic from October 2017 to April 2019 were considered eligible. Their medical records were reviewed to identify patients who developed symptomatic AVN, as confirmed by either magnetic resonance imaging or plain radiography. Subsequently, their SLE disease characteristics and treatment were compared with the characteristics of patients who did not have AVN. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent factors associated with AVN among the multiethnic SLE cohort. A total of 390 patients were recruited, and the majority of them were females (92.6%); the patients were predominantly of Malay ethnicity (59.5%), followed by Chinese (35.9%) and Indian (4.6%). The prevalence of symptomatic AVN was 14.1%, and the mean age of AVN diagnosis was 37.6 ± 14.4 years. Both univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that a longer disease duration, high LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol), positive anti-cardiolipin (aCL) IgG and anti-dsDNA results, a history of an oral prednisolone dose of more than 30 mg daily for at least 4 weeks and osteoporotic fractures were significantly associated with AVN. On the other hand, hydroxychloroquin (HCQ), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and bisphosphonate use were associated with a lower risk of AVN. No associations with ethnicity were found. In conclusion, several modifiable risk factors were found to be associated with AVN, and these factors may be used to identify patients who are at high risk of developing such complications. The potential protective effects of HCQ, MMF and bisphosphonates warrant additional studies.


Author(s):  
Shadi Nahvi ◽  
Darius A. Rastegar

Nicotine is responsible for the psychoactive and habit-forming effects of tobacco. Approximately 30% of Americans use tobacco products; half of them are nicotine-dependent. Nicotine has mild stimulant effects. Overdose is rare in experienced users. Some may develop nausea, vomiting, weakness, and dizziness. Withdrawal symptoms include craving, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, and increased appetite. Smokers have elevated exhaled carbon monoxide and serum carboxyhemoglobin levels. Cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, can be detected in blood and urine. Many medical conditions are associated with tobacco use (particularly smoking), including cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, and a variety of malignancies. A number of interventions can help increase smoking cessation rates, including physician advice, counseling, nicotine replacement, varenicline, and bupropion. Electronic cigarettes may help smokers quit or reduce their smoking.


2020 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-055951
Author(s):  
Kosuke Kiyohara ◽  
Takahiro Tabuchi

ObjectiveWe aimed to examine the use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in locations where cigarette smoking was not allowed, and to explore the factors associated with such use among Japanese HTP users.MethodsAn internet-based self-reported questionnaire survey was conducted in 2019 as part of the Japan Society and New Tobacco Internet Survey. The study subjects were respondents who self-reported having used HTPs in the last year. The proportions of those who had ever used or frequently used HTPs in locations where tobacco smoking was not allowed in the last year were calculated. These locations included home, restaurants and workplaces. Furthermore, potential factors associated with HTP use in such smoke-free locations were examined using multivariable logistic regression analyses.ResultsThe proportion of HTP users who had ever used HTPs in smoke-free locations in the last year was 20.7% (148/716) at home, 11.8% (128/1081) in restaurants and 11.9% (113/950) in workplaces. The proportion of those who had frequently used HTPs in those locations was 9.5% (68/716) at home, 4.8% (52/1081) in restaurants and 8.0% (76/950) in workplaces. The statistically significant factors associated with HTP use varied by location. Generally, respondents who thought HTP use was not forbidden in places where tobacco smoking is forbidden were likely to use HTPs in such locations.ConclusionIn Japan, a considerable number of people used HTPs in locations where tobacco smoking was not allowed. Policymakers should establish clear rules about use of HTPs in smoke-free environments.


Author(s):  
Andrew Stickley ◽  
Tetsuya Matsubayashi ◽  
Michiko Ueda

Abstract Background There is some evidence that loneliness may be linked to poorer health behaviours. Despite this, there has been little research to date on the relationship between loneliness and COVID-19 preventive behaviours. We studied these associations in a sample of the Japanese population. Methods Data were analysed from an online survey of 2000 adults undertaken in April and May 2020. Loneliness was assessed with the Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Information was also collected on 13 COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Regression analyses were used to examine associations. Results In linear regression models adjusted for demographic and mental health variables, both dichotomous and continuous loneliness measures were negatively associated with engaging in COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Logistic regression analyses further showed that loneliness was also associated with reduced odds for a variety of individual preventive behaviours including wearing a mask (odds ratio [OR]: 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62–0.95), disinfecting hands (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.67–0.94) and social distancing when outdoors (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61–0.92). Conclusions Loneliness is associated with lower engagement in COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Interventions to prevent or ameliorate loneliness during the ongoing pandemic may be important in combating the spread of the coronavirus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-87
Author(s):  
Rachael Taylor ◽  
David Sidloff ◽  
Robert D. Sayers ◽  
Matthew J. Bown ◽  
Athanasios Saratzis

Introduction: Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are becoming increasingly popular. However, little is known regarding their patterns of use in patients with established CVD.Aims: We aimed to assess the perceptions and patterns of use of e-cigarettes in patients presenting to a vascular clinic.Methods: We performed a qualitative study to identify perceptions and beliefs about e-cigarettes. Semi-structured interviews of consecutive patients consenting to participate were performed over five-months. Individuals were recruited from a vascular surgery outpatient clinic. Initial interviews were based on a questionnaire. Further structured interviews were conducted with patients currently using e-cigarettes, which were transcribed and analysed to assess perceptions and patterns of use.Results/Findings: Four overarching themes emerged: attraction to e-cigarettes as a harm reduction/smoking cessation strategy; uncertainty regarding the risks of e-cigarettes; use of various types of smoking cessation strategies; dual use and often complete relapse to tobacco products.Conclusions: Patients with established CVD view e-cigarettes as a means of smoking cessation; however, many relapse to tobacco products or use both simultaneously. Further research is necessary regarding the role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation in this high-risk group.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256538
Author(s):  
Masanori Iwasaki ◽  
Michihiko Usui ◽  
Wataru Ariyoshi ◽  
Keisuke Nakashima ◽  
Yoshie Nagai-Yoshioka ◽  
...  

Objectives N-benzoyl-DL-arginine peptidase (trypsin-like peptidase) is specifically produced by certain strains of periodontitis-associated bacteria. We aimed to examine the effectiveness of an objectively quantified trypsin-like peptidase activity assay (TLP-AA) for detecting severe periodontitis. Methods The study population included 347 adults (108 men and 239 women; average age, 43.3 years) who underwent a full-mouth periodontal examination. Specimens for the TLP-AA were obtained using tongue swabs. Using a color reader, the TLP-AA results were obtained as a* values, with higher positive a* values indicating an increased intense enzymatic activity. The predictive validity of the TLP-AA results for severe periodontitis was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and the periodontitis case definition provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American Academy of Periodontology as the gold standard. Furthermore, multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to predict severe periodontitis using the TLP-AA results and health characteristics, as the exposure variables. Results Severe periodontitis was observed in 5.2% of the participants. TLP-AA had high diagnostic accuracy for severe periodontitis, with an area under the curve of 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75–0.92). The cut-off score for the a* value that best differentiated individuals with severe periodontitis was 0.09, with a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 77%. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that the TLP-AA results were significantly associated with severe periodontitis after adjusting for health characteristics (adjusted odds ratios: 1.90 [95% CI: 1.37–2.62] for the a* value). Conclusions Objectively quantified TLP-AA results are potentially useful for detecting severe periodontitis in epidemiological surveillance.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Wang ◽  
Mengjun Chen ◽  
Danhong Fang

Abstract Background In a previous study, the high ratio of serum triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) was relevant to a high risk of sarcopenia in Korean old males. In this study, the purpose was to discover the association in Chinese community adults.MethodsChinese adults who had physical examinations from May 2016 to August 2017 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were involved in this study. The univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to evaluate possible effect.ResultsIn total, 2613 adults were involved in the study, with 13.85% presenting sarcopenia. Individuals with TG/HDL-C ratios <2.78 or ≥2.78 were categorized as TG/HDL-Clow or TG/HDL-Chigh, respectively. 1266 individuals were in high group and the remaining were in the low group. By univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses, the ratio of TG/HDL-C remained independent association with sarcopenia status(OR: 0.63; 95%CI: 0.49-0.81). ConclusionsThe negative association between sarcopenia and TG/HDL-C ratio was discovered in Chinese community population.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document