E-cigarette Use Patterns and Device Characteristics of Daily E-cigarette Users in Maryland
Year: 2019
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: TPS 771: Diet and lifestyle, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 26, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background: Approximately 10.8 million American adults use e-cigarettes, with more than half under 35 years old. Currently, there is limited literature on daily e-cigarette users, which make up 1% of prevalence. This study describes the use patterns and e-cigarette device characteristics of daily e-cigarette users in Maryland. Methods: From December 2015 to October 2017, we recruited 164 participants: 100 daily sole e-cigarette users, 14 daily dual users (use e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco cigarettes), 50 non-smokers who were also non-e-cigarette users. Data on health status, e-cigarette use patterns, device characteristics, sociodemographic factors were collected by interview. Results: Sole e-cigarette users, dual users, and non-users were similar in sociodemographic characteristics; participants were mostly male (64%), Caucasian (82.3%), aged 30.4 years (SD: 10 years). On average, e-cigarette users used 2 devices (SD: 1 device), vaped 365 puffs/day (SD: 720 puffs) at 4.25 volts (SD: 1.2 volts) with either a kanthal (44%), stainless steel (17%) or nichrome heating coil (16%); users tended to consume 52.1 ml of e-liquid/week (SD: 47.2 ml) with a nicotine concentration of 5.4 mg/ml (SD: 5.3 mg/ml). Compared to non-users, e-cigarette users reported more symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing in the morning and in the evening, and having hypertension. Majority of e-cigarette users intended to reduce e-liquid nicotine levels, but less than half planned to quit e-cigarette use altogether. In regression models, older aged individuals tended to vape at a higher nicotine concentration but at fewer puffs per day. Women and individuals of higher education tended to vape at a lower voltage and consume less e-liquid/week. Conclusion: With chronic use and no intention to quit vaping, e-cigarette users may be at risk for increased toxic exposures, particularly among men and individuals with lower education levels. Further research is needed to characterize the long-term health effects of daily e-cigarette use.
Source: Environmental Epidemiology
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,200
OpenAlex ID: W2982272221