Differences in vaping frequency and negative health effects experienced from vaping in a sample of vapers from three Middle Eastern countries.

AIM: To examine differences in the likelihood of higher vaping frequency and experiencing negative effects from vaping in a sample of vapers from three Middle Eastern countries.

METHODS

Adult vapers completed an online cross-sectional survey through a link on social media using paid advertisements. Using logistic regression, we tested the relationship between country of residence with number of days vaped in a week (daily or nondaily), vaping episodes in a day [regular use (1-16 episodes) versus compulsive use (>16 episodes)], puffs per episode [moderate (1-9 puffs) versus binge (>9 puffs)], and experienced negative health effects (yes versus no), while controlling for sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS

In total, 386 vapers were included in the logistic regression analyses. Compared to vapers in Qatar, those in Egypt were more likely to vape daily, and those in Iraq were more likely to experience negative health effects. Male vapers had lower likelihood of experiencing negative effects than female vapers. Vapers with past quit attempts had a lower likelihood of vaping daily and higher likelihood of experiencing negative health effects compared to vapers who did not attempt quitting. Compared to regular vapers, compulsive vapers were more likely to vape daily, and daily vapers were more likely to vape compulsively relative to non-daily vapers. Compared to vapers that never used tobacco, vapers who used tobacco in the past were more likely to vape daily and compulsively, and vapers who are current tobacco users were more likely to vape compulsively.

CONCLUSION

Country-based differences reflect policy stringency as more strict ones (Qatar) had lower vaping frequency. Higher vaping frequency was more evident in compulsive vapers, daily vapers, and vapers with past tobacco use history. Negative health outcomes were more common among females and in those with past quit attempts, which signifies the need for targeted vaping cessation for these populations.