Prevalence and uptake of vaping among people who have quit smoking: a population study in England, 2013-2024

Abstract Background Vaping prevalence has increased rapidly in England since 2021. This study estimated trends between 2013 and 2024 in vaping among ex-smokers, overall and among those who did not use e-cigarettes to support their quit attempt. Methods Data were collected via nationally-representati...

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Main Authors: Sarah E. Jackson, Jamie Brown, Loren Kock, Lion Shahab
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03723-2
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author Sarah E. Jackson
Jamie Brown
Loren Kock
Lion Shahab
author_facet Sarah E. Jackson
Jamie Brown
Loren Kock
Lion Shahab
author_sort Sarah E. Jackson
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Vaping prevalence has increased rapidly in England since 2021. This study estimated trends between 2013 and 2024 in vaping among ex-smokers, overall and among those who did not use e-cigarettes to support their quit attempt. Methods Data were collected via nationally-representative, monthly cross-sectional surveys in England, October 2013 to May 2024. We analysed data from 54,251 adults (≥ 18y) who reported having tried to stop smoking in the past year or having stopped smoking more than a year ago. Logistic regression estimated associations between time and e-cigarette use. Results Across the period, there were increases in the use of e-cigarettes to support attempts to stop smoking (from 26.9% [24.0–30.0%] in October 2013 to 41.4% [37.7–45.2%] in May 2024), in current vaping among ≥ 1y ex-smokers (1.9% [1.5–2.5%] to 20.4% [18.7–22.2%]), and in late uptake of vaping after smoking cessation (i.e., current vaping among people who quit smoking before e-cigarettes started to become popular in 2011; 0.4% [0.2–0.8%] to 3.7% [2.8–4.9%]). These increases were non-linear, with much of the difference occurring since mid-2021, and were greatest at younger ages (e.g., current vaping among ≥ 1y ex-smokers reached 58.9% among 18-year-olds vs. 10.7% among 65-year-olds). Conclusions Vaping prevalence increased substantially among adult ex-smokers in England over the past decade, particularly at younger ages. While this is likely to have been largely driven by increased use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts and continued use thereafter, there was also evidence of increased uptake of vaping among those who had been abstinent from smoking for many years.
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spelling doaj-art-03bd45790d1b442db4072a08585072ed2024-11-24T12:29:29ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152024-11-0122111010.1186/s12916-024-03723-2Prevalence and uptake of vaping among people who have quit smoking: a population study in England, 2013-2024Sarah E. Jackson0Jamie Brown1Loren Kock2Lion Shahab3Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College LondonDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, University College LondonDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, University College LondonDepartment of Behavioural Science and Health, University College LondonAbstract Background Vaping prevalence has increased rapidly in England since 2021. This study estimated trends between 2013 and 2024 in vaping among ex-smokers, overall and among those who did not use e-cigarettes to support their quit attempt. Methods Data were collected via nationally-representative, monthly cross-sectional surveys in England, October 2013 to May 2024. We analysed data from 54,251 adults (≥ 18y) who reported having tried to stop smoking in the past year or having stopped smoking more than a year ago. Logistic regression estimated associations between time and e-cigarette use. Results Across the period, there were increases in the use of e-cigarettes to support attempts to stop smoking (from 26.9% [24.0–30.0%] in October 2013 to 41.4% [37.7–45.2%] in May 2024), in current vaping among ≥ 1y ex-smokers (1.9% [1.5–2.5%] to 20.4% [18.7–22.2%]), and in late uptake of vaping after smoking cessation (i.e., current vaping among people who quit smoking before e-cigarettes started to become popular in 2011; 0.4% [0.2–0.8%] to 3.7% [2.8–4.9%]). These increases were non-linear, with much of the difference occurring since mid-2021, and were greatest at younger ages (e.g., current vaping among ≥ 1y ex-smokers reached 58.9% among 18-year-olds vs. 10.7% among 65-year-olds). Conclusions Vaping prevalence increased substantially among adult ex-smokers in England over the past decade, particularly at younger ages. While this is likely to have been largely driven by increased use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts and continued use thereafter, there was also evidence of increased uptake of vaping among those who had been abstinent from smoking for many years.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03723-2VapingE-cigaretteEx-smokerFormer smokerSmoking cessationQuitting
spellingShingle Sarah E. Jackson
Jamie Brown
Loren Kock
Lion Shahab
Prevalence and uptake of vaping among people who have quit smoking: a population study in England, 2013-2024
BMC Medicine
Vaping
E-cigarette
Ex-smoker
Former smoker
Smoking cessation
Quitting
title Prevalence and uptake of vaping among people who have quit smoking: a population study in England, 2013-2024
title_full Prevalence and uptake of vaping among people who have quit smoking: a population study in England, 2013-2024
title_fullStr Prevalence and uptake of vaping among people who have quit smoking: a population study in England, 2013-2024
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and uptake of vaping among people who have quit smoking: a population study in England, 2013-2024
title_short Prevalence and uptake of vaping among people who have quit smoking: a population study in England, 2013-2024
title_sort prevalence and uptake of vaping among people who have quit smoking a population study in england 2013 2024
topic Vaping
E-cigarette
Ex-smoker
Former smoker
Smoking cessation
Quitting
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03723-2
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