Tobacco Use Insights (Aug 2024)

Trends and Disparities in Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking Among US Adolescents and Adults: PATH Study 2013-2021

  • Mohammad Ebrahimi Kalan,
  • Wei Li,
  • Olatokunbo Osibogun,
  • Rime Jebai,
  • Prem Gautam,
  • Olufemi Erinoso,
  • Seyede Yasaman Alemohammad,
  • Sheida Khosravaniardakani,
  • Ghader Dargahi Abbasabad,
  • Raed Behaleh,
  • Kenneth D. Ward,
  • Zoran Bursac,
  • Ziyad Ben Taleb

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/1179173X241275352
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17

Abstract

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Background Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is a popular mode of nicotine delivery among young people. We examined the trends and disparities in WTS from 2013 to 2021 among US adolescents and adults. Methods Data were from Wave 1 (initially conducted among 32 320 adults and 13 651 adolescents) to Wave 6 (2013-2021) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. We assessed the weighted prevalence of ever and current (past 30-day) WTS for adults and adolescents across waves stratified by demographics. Results From 2013-2021 among adolescents, the prevalence of ever and current WTS decreased by 86.5% (7.4% to 1.00%; p = 0.0364) and 97.1% (1.65% to 0.05%; p = 0.0012), respectively. Despite the decreasing trends among adolescents across all waves, females had a higher prevalence of ever and current WTS compared to males ( p ’s < 0.001 for all trends). Hispanics had the highest prevalence of ever WTS compared to other races/ethnicities ( p ’s < 0.001). Adolescents aged 15-17 had a higher (except Wave 6) prevalence of ever and current WTS than 12-14 years old ( p ’s < 0.001). For adults, the prevalence of ever WTS increased by 27.4% (16.39% to 20.92%; p = 0.0006), and current WTS decreased by 45.5% (2.19% to 1.24%; p = 0.0012). Young adults aged 18-24 experienced increasing trends in WTS and had the highest prevalence of ever and current WTS compared to other age groups ( p ’s < 0.001) across all waves. Conclusions Our study indicates a notable decrease in adolescent WTS prevalence from 2013 to 2021 but an increase of ever WTS among adults. Demographic differences underscore disparities in WTS, calling for tailored interventions.