Prevalence and correlates of hookah use: a nationally representative sample of US adults ages 18–40 years old

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with hookah smoking and perceptions of harm among U.S. adults. Data were pooled from the Tobacco Products and Risk Perceptions Surveys conducted separately in the summers of 2014 and 2015, among a probability sample selected from an online research panel. Descriptive, logistic regression, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted. In 2014/2015, prevalence of ever and past 30-day hookah smoking among U.S. adults were 15.8% (95% C.I.: 15.0%, 16.7%) and 1.5% (95% C.I.: 1.2%, 1.8%), respectively. Adults who used other alternative tobacco products had a higher odds of hookah smoking than those who did not. Adults with some college education (AOR, 1.53) and with a college degree or more (AOR, 2.21), those identified as non-Hispanic other (AOR, 1.38) were more likely to be ever hookah smokers. Being a young adult (AOR, 2.7), college-educated (AOR, 2.3), never smoker (AOR, 2.1), and an ever hookah smoker (AOR, 2.8) were associated with lower perceptions of harm. Findings suggest that young college students are at higher risk of smoking hookah and that hookah smoking is more prevalent among individuals who use other tobacco products, such as little cigars and cigarillos, traditional cigars, and e-cigarettes, indicating a distinct group of users of alternative tobacco products. Regarding potential harm of hookah, the study highlights a knowledge gap and misperception especially among young, college-educated, and never smokers. Public health interventions should target these subpopulations to provide them with accurate information on hookah smoking.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and harm perceptions of hookah smoking among U.S. adults, 2014–2015

Majeed

Sterling

Weaver

et al. 2017

“…Hookah tobacco smoking has been on the rise among men and women over the age of 18 over the last five years, 1–3 and has become particularly popular among young adults. 4 The increasing prevalence of HTS is concerning.…”

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confidence: 99%

Hookah tobacco smoking in a large urban sample of adult cigarette smokers: Links with alcohol and poly-tobacco use

Cohn

Ehlke

Cobb

et al. 2017

Hookah tobacco smoking (HTS) has been increasing, particularly among young adults and has similar health effects compared to cigarette smoking. The link between HTS and poly-tobacco use is well documented, but fewer show an association between HTS and alcohol use. It is essential to identify factors that increase the risk for or addictiveness and consequences of HTS, given its growing prevalence. This study examined whether the association between HTS and poly-tobacco use differed as a function of age and alcohol consumption within in a sample of 1,223 adult cigarette smokers. Approximately 20% of participants reported HTS. Compared to non-users, hookah users were more likely to be male, highly educated, and to report drug and alcohol use, binge drinking, and poly-tobacco use but were less likely to be heavy smokers (>10 cigarettes per day). Regression analyses predicting number of tobacco products used (excluding cigarettes and HTS) indicated a three-way interaction of HTS, frequency of alcohol use, and age such that the association between HTS and number of tobacco products used was strongest for younger respondents who consumed alcohol more frequently. As observed in previous studies, alcohol is an important risk factor in the relationship between HTS and poly-tobacco use, particularly among younger cigarette smokers. The links between alcohol, HTS, and poly-tobacco use should be considered when developing HTS education and prevention materials directed toward younger cigarette smokers. Findings provide information relevant to FDA’s interest in the addiction potential of HTS and its link to poly-tobacco use.

“…For example, all participants reported recent cigarette smoking; while hookah users are more likely to use cigarettes and other products (Grinberg & Goodwin, in press; Montgomery et al, 2015; Shephardson & Hustand, 2016), some do not. Additionally, the sample included relatively few African Americans, whom initial evidence suggests may use hookah at lower rates than other groups (Jones & Cunningham-Williams, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hookah tobacco use and stressful life events in a sample of young non-daily cigarette smokers

Brikmanis

Doran

2017

Introduction Understanding factors that influence hookah use among young adults is important given its increasing popularity and health risks. The purpose of this study was to examine whether young adult non-daily cigarette smokers use hookah for stress regulation. We hypothesized that greater perceived stress and greater stressful life events would predict probability and frequency of recent hookah use. Methods Participants (n=598, 50.7% male) were non-daily smokers aged 18-24 years (M=20.5, SD=1.8), who completed a baseline assessment online or via mobile phone as part of a longitudinal study. Participants had been non-daily smokers for at least six months but had never been daily smokers. Results Thirty-one percent of participants reported using hookah over the past 14 days. Fulltime students were more likely to have used hookah recently. More stressful life events and more frequent alcohol use predicted likelihood and frequency of hookah use (ps < .05). Perceived stress was not associated with hookah use. Conclusions Findings suggest that hookah tobacco use is related to frequency of stressful life events but not perceived stress among non-daily cigarette smokers. Tobacco prevention and intervention programs should address hookah use and should include adaptive strategies for coping with stressful events.