Household Surveys in the General Population and Web-Based Surveys in IQOS Users Registered at the Philip Morris International IQOS User Database: Protocols on the Use of Tobacco- and Nicotine-Containing Products in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom (Greater London), 2018-2020

Abstract

Background Philip Morris International (PMI) has developed a novel heat-not-burn tobacco product, Tobacco Heating System (THS), which is marketed under the brand name of IQOS with HEETS (IQOS). The aerosol generated by THS has substantially fewer toxicants than combustible cigarette smoke, although the extent of the reduction of harmful and potentially harmful constituents reported varies between studies. To evaluate the potential harm reduction associated with IQOS use, the assessment of the uptake and continued use of IQOS in the context of all other tobacco- and nicotine-containing products is crucial. In March 2018, PMI launched cross-sectional surveys in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom (Greater London) to estimate the prevalence and use patterns of IQOS and other tobacco- and nicotine-containing products use in these 3 markets following the commercialization of IQOS. This study describes the protocol of the surveys. Objective The objectives of these surveys are to estimate the prevalence of tobacco- and nicotine-containing products use; describe past and current patterns of use; and explore their associations with self-reported health, motivation to use, risk perceptions, and perceived aesthetic changes. Methods The overall design of the surveys is similar in all 3 countries. Repeated cross-sectional surveys are being conducted annually over 3 consecutive years (2018 to 2020) and in 2 samples: a representative sample of the general population and a sample of IQOS users. A total of 6085 adults per year will be selected from the general population for each survey through multistage stratified sampling, and participants will respond to face-to-face computer-assisted personal interviews. In addition, 1404, 1384, and 1246 IQOS users per year in Germany, Italy, and Greater London, respectively, will be randomly selected from the PMI IQOS user database and will be invited to complete the Web-based survey using computer-assisted self-interviews. The Smoking Questionnaire is used to assess the tobacco use patterns of the participants. Results The recruitment of the general population sample began in March 2018 and that of the IQOS user sample began in April 2018. The data collection is ongoing, and the results of the first year data analysis are expected to be available by June 2019. Conclusions As the design of the 3 surveys is similar, the results will allow for cross-countries comparison of the prevalence of IQOS and other tobacco- and nicotine-containing products use as well as patterns of use and associated factors. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/12061

The impact of heated tobacco products on arterial stiffness

“…Heated tobacco products (HTPs) might lead to negative side effects on the cardiovascular system. 1 An HTP is a hybrid between an e-cigarette and a combustible cigarette. It uses the energy of a battery to heat tobacco to temperatures between 250°C and 350°C and to evaporate the nicotine it contains.…”

US regulator adds to confusion around heated tobacco products

“…Phillip Morris’s clinical and aerosol outcome data are not comprehensive, and in fact 56 potentially harmful substances are higher in IQOS aerosol than cigarette smoke. 6 12 Concerns about Phillip Morris’s IQOS research 13 14 and failure to make data from its longer term studies public 15 16 are amplified by the tobacco industry’s history of research manipulation and hiding the harms of smoking. 13 17 With the many other products now available, including pharmaceutical nicotine, which are known to be safe, smokers looking to reduce harm rather than quit should see heated tobacco products as a last resort.…”