National Trends in Frequency and Amount of Nondaily Smoking, and Relation to Quit Attempts, 2000-2012

To understand changes occurring in nondaily smoking, we assessed differences in demographics and trends in nondaily smoking, by smoking frequency and amount.

Participants were 13 966 adult nondaily cigarette smokers (NDS) age 18 years and older responding to the 2000-2012 US National Health Interview Survey, an annual, nationally-representative, cross-sectional, household interview survey. We created a nine-level smoking frequency-amount variable using tertile cut points from the number of days smoked in the past 30 (1-7, 8-14, 15-29 days) and number of cigarettes smoked per day (cpd; 1-2, 3-5, ≥6). We computed weighted frequencies by low-, moderate-, high-frequency use, by low-, moderate-, high-cpd amount, and by demographics. We estimated temporal trends using weighted least squares regression, and the association between groups and past-year quit attempts using logistic regression.

Overall prevalence of nondaily smoking among adults remained stable between 2000 to 2012 (P = .62). The most prevalent nondaily smoking frequency-amount groups were: smoking 15-29 days (in the past 30), 3-5 cpd (20.2%); 1-7 days, 1-2 cpd (19.7%); 15-29 days, 1-2 cpd (14.9%); and 15-29 days, ≥6 cpd (12.1%). From 2000 to 2012, low-cpd NDS (1-2 cpd) across moderate (8-14 days) and high (15-29 days) frequency groups increased (P < .01), while moderate frequency-moderate cpd (8-14 days, 3-5 cpd; P < .05) and high frequency-high cpd (15-29 days, ≥6 cpd; P < .01) NDS declined. Adjusting for demographics and year, the lowest frequency-amount groups had the lowest odds of past-year quit attempts.

Changes occurred in NDS frequency and amount from 2000 to 2012, suggesting that more granular classifications may be important for monitoring NDS patterns.

From 2000 to 2012, low-cpd NDS (1-2 cpd) across moderate- (8-14 days) and high-frequency (15-29 days) groups increased in the United States, while moderate frequency-moderate cpd (8-14 days, 3-5 cpd) and high frequency-high cpd (15-29 days, ≥6 cpd) NDS declined. Demographic differences were found across NDS frequency-amount groups. Adjusting for demographics and year, the lowest frequency-amount groups had the lowest odds of past-year quit attempts. These data can be used to further understand evolving patterns of NDS behavior, and to provide possible targeted groups-both by demographics and smoking frequency/amount-for future research and intervention.