Associations between reasons for vaping and current vaping and smoking status: Evidence from a UK based cohort

Background: This study aimed to discover which young adults vape, the reasons given for vaping, and which reasons for vaping are associated with continued vaping/smoking. 

Methods: In a UK cohort of 3,994 young adults, we explored the association of retrospectively-recalled reasons for vaping by 23 years (collected between 2015 and 2016) with vaping/smoking status at 24 years (collected between 2016 and 2017). Using logistic regression, we assessed the association with vaping behaviour among ever vapers who had ever smoked (n = 668), and with smoking behaviour among individuals who regularly smoked prior to vaping (n = 412). 

Results: Vaping to quit smoking was associated with higher likelihood of vaping (odds ratio [OR] = 3.51, 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI] = 2.29–5.38), but lower likelihood of smoking at 24 years (OR = 0.50, 95 %CI = 0.32 to 0.78). Vaping to cut down smoking was associated with higher likelihood of vaping (OR = 2.90, 95 % CI = 1.87–4.50) and smoking at 24 years (OR = 1.62, 95 % CI = 1.02–2.58). Vaping out of curiosity was associated with lower likelihood of vaping at 24 years (OR = 0.41, 95 %CI = 0.26 to 0.63) but higher likelihood of smoking at 24 years (OR = 1.66, 95 % CI = 1.04–2.65). 

Conclusions: Intention to quit appears important for young adults to stop smoking using e-cigarettes. Public health strategies that encourage vaping specifically for smoking cessation may encourage quitting among young adults.