Prevalence of Smoking to E-cigarette Transition and Health Effects Reported in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study sought to elucidate the demographic distribution, tobacco smoking history, e-cigarette use patterns, reasons for switching to e-cigarettes, tobacco cessation effectiveness, and physical and psychological health impacts of e-cigarette users. The majority of 116 participants were male (60.3%) and between the ages of 23 and 33 (68.1%). Over fifty-three percent (53.4%) of e-cigarette users were former tobacco smokers. The majority of participants began using electronic cigarettes in their early to mid-twenties. The ease of use of e-cigarettes accounted for 80.6% of the transition from smoking to e-cigarette use. In terms of tobacco cessation, more than half (51,6%) of those who switched to e-cigarettes quit smoking tobacco. However, efficacy was variable, with 33.9% reporting moderate smoking cessation effectiveness. Post-switch, participants reported mixed physical health effects. Different effects on mood, nicotine cravings, and sleep quality were observed from a psychological standpoint. Gender and age had a substantial impact on smoking habits after quitting knowing that our sample is mostly male and young people. Multiple logistic regressions showed that age of e-cigarette initiation, duration, cessation efficacy, and age group emerged as significant predictors of quitting tobacco smoking especially Those who started vaping between the ages of 25 and 28 and those who had been vaping for 4 years or more, as well as those aged 28 to 33, were more likely to stop smoking cigarettes. The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of e-cigarette use and its consequences, necessitating additional research.