Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University.
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University.
J Epidemiol. 2019 Apr 5;29(4):155-163. doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20170300. Epub 2018 Sep 1.
The different profiles of e-cigarette users in different age groups have seldom been investigated, particularly in populations facing a high prevalence of cigarette smoking. This study aims to examine the prevalence and correlates of e-cigarette use separately for adolescents and adults in nationally representative samples in Taiwan.
Among 17,837 participants in the 2014 National Survey of Substance Use in Taiwan, 4445 were aged 12 to 17 years and 13,392 were aged 18 to 64 years. Individuals' lifetime tobacco use was divided into four groups: non-use, exclusive e-cigarette use, exclusive cigarette use, and dual use. Questions on sociodemographic features, use and problematic use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs, and psychosocial distress, among others, were administered using a computer-assisted self-interview on tablet computers.
Among lifetime users of e-cigarette (2.2% for adults and 0.8% for adolescents), 4.5% for adults and 36.6% for adolescents were exclusive e-cigarette users. From use of exclusive e-cigarettes to use of exclusive cigarettes to dual use, those usage groups were related to an increasing trend of adjusted odds ratios for use of other psychoactive substances, particularly problematic use of alcohol or drugs, and with more depressive symptoms. Two correlates were specific to e-cigarette use: alcohol use had stronger relationships with e-cigarette use among adolescents, and younger adults (18-34) were more likely to try e-cigarettes compared to older adults.
These results provide essential information regarding e-cigarette use in the general population, and future prevention strategies should account for its specific correlates in young people.
不同年龄组电子烟使用者的不同特征很少被研究过，特别是在吸烟率较高的人群中。本研究旨在分别调查台湾全国代表性样本中青少年和成年人电子烟使用的流行率及其相关因素。
在台湾 2014 年全国物质使用调查中，17837 名参与者中，4445 人年龄在 12 至 17 岁之间，13392 人年龄在 18 至 64 岁之间。个体终生烟草使用分为四组：不使用、仅电子烟使用、仅香烟使用和双重使用。使用平板电脑上的计算机辅助自我访谈，对社会人口统计学特征、烟草、酒精和其他药物的使用和问题使用、以及心理社会困扰等问题进行了询问。
在终生使用电子烟的人群中（成年人 2.2%，青少年 0.8%），成年人中有 4.5%、青少年中有 36.6%为仅电子烟使用者。从仅电子烟使用到仅香烟使用再到双重使用，这些使用群体与使用其他精神活性物质的调整比值呈上升趋势，特别是酒精或药物的问题使用，以及更多的抑郁症状。两个相关因素是电子烟使用特有的：青少年中，酒精使用与电子烟使用的关系更强，而年轻成年人（18-34 岁）比老年成年人（35-64 岁）更有可能尝试电子烟。
这些结果提供了关于一般人群中电子烟使用的重要信息，未来的预防策略应考虑到年轻人中电子烟使用的具体相关因素。
