Tobacco and E-Product Use by US Adults With Disabilities.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Research on cumulative disabilities and tobacco use remains limited in the evolving tobacco landscape.
• Understanding these trends is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the prevalence of tobacco use across varying levels of cumulative disabilities among US adults.
• To analyze trends in tobacco use in relation to disability over time.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a representative sample of US adults (aged ≥18).
• Compared cross-sectional survey data from 2013-2014 (wave 1), 2016-2018 (wave 4), and 2022-2023 (wave 7).
• Assessed past 30-day use of various tobacco products and created a 4-level cumulative disability measure (0, 1, 2, or ≥3).

Main Results:

• In 2013-2014, tobacco use prevalence increased with disability level, from 25.4% (no disability) to 51.8% (≥3 disabilities).
• Tobacco use, including cigarettes and cigars, was consistently higher among adults with multiple disabilities.
• While overall tobacco use declined, e-product use increased, especially among those with three or more disabilities, with some declines not being statistically significant for this group.

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities in tobacco use exist across cumulative disability levels in the US adult population.
• Despite general declines in tobacco use, these disparities have persisted or worsened, particularly for individuals with multiple disabilities.
• Targeted prevention, screening, and cessation programs addressing diverse tobacco products are essential for this vulnerable population.