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Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting
April 26, 2015
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E-cigarette use on the rise among teen smokers, non-smokers

SAN DIEGO — Results from a national study indicate that electronic cigarette use has significantly increased among adolescents in the last two years, regardless of smoking status.

“Electronic cigarettes are of great concern,” study researcher Jonathan D. Klein, MD, MPH, FAAP, associate executive director of the AAP, said in a press release. “They are highly addictive nicotine delivery devices, and the vapor can and does cause harm to lungs.”

Klein and colleagues assessed data from 142 practices in the AAP Pediatric Research in Office Settings Network for 8,354 patients, as part of the Adolescent Health in Pediatric Practice Study. Adolescents who presented to the office between 2012 and 2014 completed surveys on tobacco use. Study participants had a mean age of 16 years.

Overall, 23% of the study cohort reported cigarette use, 11% reported e-cigarette use, 14% reported using a hookah, 8% reported using little cigars and 6% reported chewing tobacco use.

E-cigarette use increased from 5% in 2012 to 13% in 2014 (P < .001). This increase was significantly high among current cigarette smokers, as their use of e-cigarettes increased from 34% in 2012 to 61% in 2014 (P < .001).

Hookah use significantly increased among adolescents who did not smoke cigarettes, from 8% in 2012 to 12% in 2014 (P < .001).

Among cigarette smokers, 62% used e-cigarettes, 40% little cigars, 39% hookahs and 28% chewing tobacco in addition to cigarettes. Dual use was most common among older study participants.

Males were more likely to use multiple tobacco products vs. females (20% vs. 15%; P < .001).

“Adolescent use of alternative tobacco products is problematic among current smokers, as it may prolong or worsen nicotine addiction. It is also problematic among non-smokers, as it may serve as a gateway to further tobacco use and nicotine addiction,” Klein said in the release. “Our study shows that e-cigarette use is increasing rapidly, and this should be a wake-up call for regulating these devices along with all other tobacco products.” – by Amanda Oldt

Reference:

Gorzkowski J, et al. Abstract #2165.6. Presented at: Pediatric Academic Societies 2015; April 25-28, 2015; San Diego.

Disclosures: Infectious Diseases in Children was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.