Waterpipe tobacco smoking among sexual minorities in the United States: Evidence from the National Adult Tobacco Survey (2012-2014).

OBJECTIVE

The current study examined differences in waterpipe smoking (both lifetime and current) comparing sexual minority populations - those identifying with lesbian, gay, or bisexual identity - to their heterosexual counterparts using a nationally representative dataset.

METHODS

The current study used pooled data from the 2012-2013 & 2013-2014 National Adult Tobacco Survey (NATS). Log-Poisson multivariable regression models were deployed to determine the prevalence of waterpipe smoking behavior among sexual minority individuals controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and stratified by current gender status.

RESULTS

In fully-adjusted models assessing lifetime WTS, lesbian/gay and bisexual respondents reported higher prevalence of WTS compared to their heterosexual counterparts. This trend held true in gender-stratified models among gay men [gay men: PR 1.25, 95%CI [1.06, 1.47] and women ([lesbians: PR 1.38, 95%CI [1.12, 1.69] and bisexual women: 1.69, 95%CI [1.45, 1.97]). In fully-adjusted models assessing current WTS, lesbian/gay and bisexual respondents reported higher risk of WTS compared to their heterosexual counterparts. This trend held true in gender-stratified models, only for among gay men [gay men: PR 1.56, 95%CI [1.18, 2.05] and bisexual women: 2.38, 95%CI [1.84, 3.09]).

CONCLUSIONS

Among the US general adult population, sexual minorities exhibited increased prevalence of current waterpipe smoking compared to their heterosexual counterparts. This pattern is also shaped by gender and variation of sexual orientation identification (e.g., lesbian/gay vs. bisexual). This warrants development of tailored interventions aimed at decreasing waterpipe smoking among sexual minority populations.