Exploring the effect of nicotine pouches on users' health in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Tobacco consumption is a significant public health concern and a worldwide avoidable contributor to mortality. Various alternatives have been developed to either support cessation or mitigate the impact of new tobacco products entering the market in order to address the issue. One such recent alternative is the utilization of nicotine pouches. The objective of this study is to investigate the symptoms and awareness associated with the use of nicotine pouches in Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional online survey was distributed in both Arabic and English using Google Forms, and it was conducted between 11 January and 4 March 2024 among the general population residing in the Riyadh province of Saudi Arabia. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 27, with a p<0.05 indicating significance.

A total of 385 participants were included in the study. Married individuals were significantly more likely to have used nicotine products than unmarried (76.2% vs 32.4%, p<0.001). Males were much more likely than females to have used nicotine products (63.1% vs 7.3%, p<0.001). More non-Saudis appeared to have used nicotine products compared to Saudis (57.1% vs 36.0%, p<0.001), while an age-related pattern in the usage of nicotine products, particularly among those aged 30-35 years (90.9%) was noted. In terms of nicotine pouch usage, 79 participants (73.1% vs 26.9%, p<0.001) reported having used nicotine pouches. Symptoms such as mouth or gum irritation and nausea were more common, but no specific pattern emerged.

Within our sample, daily was the most common frequency of current nicotine pouch usage, while nausea and mouth or gum irritation were reported more frequently.