Hookah use among a sample of adult Arab Americans and its health impact.

BACKGROUND

Hookah smoking has increased in popularity, and acceptance in many countries in the world such as Arab American communities.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess the frequency of hookah smoking and to recognize the knowledge and cultural identity of Arab Americans.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This cross-sectional questionnaire based on a descriptive study was conducted among 100 Arab American population (convenience sampling when the link distributed via social media, and community centers) during January 2024 to May 2025.

RESULTS

A study included a total of 100 Arab American participants were included in this research. There was a significant difference regarding age (p ≤ 0.001), the majority were between 31 and 40 years old (54%), Males represented a higher proportion of the participants (67%) compared to females (33%) (p ≤ 0.001). Regarding smoking status, 36% were current smokers, 45% reported never smoking, and 19% were ex-smokers (p = 0.003). About 51% believed that hookah use was equally hazardous as cigars, whereas 49% believed it was less harmful (p = 0.777). Importantly, all participants (100%) agreed that hookah smoking affects multiple body systems, including the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and is associated with cancer and transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 virus.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights adult dominance in hookah use, pervasive misconceptions, and cultural drivers among Arab American communities.