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NAQC Newsroom: Research

Flavoring Patterns of Exclusive and Dual-use of Cigarettes and E-cigarettes among US Adults: Results

Tuesday, May 24, 2022  
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
Zavala-Arciniega L, Hirschtick JL, Meza R, Fleischer NL.
Flavoring Patterns of Exclusive and Dual-use of Cigarettes and E-cigarettes among US Adults: Results from the TUS-CPS 2018-2019.
[published online ahead of print, 2022 May 2]. Am J Health Promot. 2022;8901171221097682. doi:10.1177/08901171221097682

Purpose. To describe patterns of menthol/non-menthol cigarettes with flavored e-cigarettes (tobacco, menthol, sweet/spicy, and other flavorings) use.
Design. We used cross-sectional data from the 2018-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS).
Setting. United States.
Subjects. Adults over 18 years old.
Sample. A nationally representative sample (n = 135 329).
Measures. We generated a 15-category variable of all combinations of cigarette and e-cigarette flavoring use.
Analysis. We estimated population prevalence (PP) for the 15-category flavored cigarette and e-cigarette use variable and proportion of flavored cigarette and e-cigarette use among adults who used cigarettes or e-cigarettes (PAU) by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income.
Results. Exclusive menthol cigarette use was higher among NH Black (PP = 8.79%, PAU = 68.96%) and low-income (PP = 4.86%, PAU = 29.09%) compared to NH White (PP = 2.63%, PAU = 18.83%) and high-income participants (PP = 1.25%, PAU = 19.02%). Exclusive sweet/spicy e-cigarette use (PP = 1.32%, PAU = 10.22%) and exclusive menthol e-cigarette use (PP = .95%, PAU = 7.40%) was higher in younger (18-34) vs older (35+) adults (PP = .34% and PAU = 2.76%, and PP = .14%, PAU = 1.11%, respectively). Older dual users tended to combine the same flavor in both products (eg, menthol cigarettes + menthol e-cigarettes), while younger adults were more likely to combine menthol and non-menthol cigarettes with sweet/spicy e-cigarettes.
Conclusion. Findings suggest that a menthol cigarette ban might be most effective in conjunction with sweet/spicy e-cigarette flavor restrictions, given these flavors are attractive for younger adults.

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