Changes in the use of nicotine-containing products during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in a representative sample of the Italian adult population

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Abstract

Introduction. To assess nicotine-containing products (NCPs; heated tobacco products and/or electronic cigarettes) use in relation to conventional smoking.
Methods. “LOST IN ITALY” (“LOckdown and Lifestyles IN ITALY”) and “LOST IN TOSCANA” cross-sectional surveys estimated lifestyles changes before, during, and after the lockdown in a representative sample of the Italian population. A Poisson regression model was used to estimate prevalence ratios of NCP use according to sociodemographic, mental distress, and smoking variables.
Results. The prevalence of conventional cigarette smokers did not decrease, remaining stable at 23%. Exclusive conventional cigarette smokers decreased from 21% before the lockdown in 2020 to 15% in 2023 but dual users, representing the large majority of NCP users, increased by 4 times, and exclusive NCP users decreased from 7% in 2020 to 5% in 2023.
Conclusions. NCPs are mostly accompanying instead of replacing conventional cigarettes. A targeted campaign should be developed in Italy to raise awareness on that.

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Authors

Margherita Zeduri - Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

Cosimo Campagni - Institute for cancer research, prevention and clinical network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy

Giulia Carreras - Oncologic network, prevention and research institute (ISPRO)

Silvano Gallus - Department of Medical Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy

Alessandra Lugo - Department of Medical Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.

Chiara Stival - Department of Medical Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.

Luisa Mastrobattista - Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Claudia Mortali - Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Anna Odone - Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.

Andrea Amerio - University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

Giuseppe Gorini - Institute for cancer research, prevention and clinical network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy.

and the “LOST IN ITALY” and “LOST IN TOSCANA” Study Investigators

How to Cite
Zeduri, M., Campagni, C., Carreras, G., Gallus, S., Lugo, A., Stival, C., … and “LOST IN TOSCANA” Study Investigators, and the “LOST I. I. (2024). Changes in the use of nicotine-containing products during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in a representative sample of the Italian adult population. Annali dell’Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 60(3), 184–190. https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_23_03_03
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