Study results suggest e-cigarettes may not act as a ‘gateway’ to other nicotine use
Kim S, Selya AS. The Relationship between Electronic Cigarette Use and Conventional Cigarette Smoking Is Largely Attributable to Shared Risk Factors
Nicotine & Tobacco Research, at : https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntz157/5570011
Published: 04 November 2019 “Cross-sectional data from 8th and 10th graders were drawn from the 2015–2016 waves of Monitoring the Future (n = 12 421). The effects of (1) lifetime and (2) current e-cigarette use on (A) lifetime and (B) current conventional cigarette smoking were examined using logistic regression analyses with inverse propensity weighting based on 14 associated risk factors.
E-cigarette use does not appear to be associated with current, continued smoking. Instead, the apparent relationship between e-cigarette use and current conventional smoking is fully explained by shared risk factors, thus failing to support claims that e-cigarettes have a causal effect on concurrent conventional smoking among youth. E-cigarette use has a remaining association with lifetime cigarette smoking after propensity score adjustment; however, future research is needed to determine whether this is a causal relationship or merely reflects unmeasured confounding.”
This research uses an innovative methodology (inverse propensity weighting) and has several limitations. For example, it is cross-sectional and was conducted before Juul became the dominant e-cigarette used by youth. Further investigation is likely to clarify these findings.
by Dr.Stephen Hamann
