Older age is associated with greater misperception of the relative health risk of e-cigarettes and cigarettes among US adults who smoke

Abstract

IntroductionThe prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults aged ≥55 has remained stagnant over the past decade. National data modelling suggests no reduction in cigarette smoking prevalence attributable to e-cigarette use in the USA among people aged ≥45. Misperceptions about the absolute risks (ie, cigarettes are not harmful) and relative risks (ie, e-cigarettes are more harmful than cigarettes) of tobacco products may contribute to sustained smoking prevalence and hesitancy to switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes among older adults.MethodsParticipants reported cigarette use (n=8072) at Wave 5 (2018–2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Weighted multivariable logistic regressions included six age categories (independent variable) and cigarette and e-cigarette risk perceptions (outcomes). Additional models assessed the associations between dichotomous age (≥55 vs 18–54), risk perceptions and an interaction term (independent variables) with past 12-month quit attempts and past-month e-cigarette use (outcomes).ResultsAdults aged ≥65 were less likely than adults aged 18–24 to rate cigarettes as very/extremely harmful (p<0.05). Odds of rating e-cigarettes as more harmful than cigarettes among adults aged 55–64 and ≥65 were 1.71 (p<0.001) and 1.43 (p=0.024) greater than for adults aged 18–24. This misperception was negatively associated with past-month e-cigarette use and was stronger among adults aged ≥55 (p<0.001) than adults aged <55 (p<0.001).DiscussionAdults aged ≥55 are more likely to have misperceptions about the absolute and relative risks of tobacco products, which may contribute to continued smoking. Health communications targeting this age group could modify beliefs about the perceived harms of tobacco products.

Differences in Normative Beliefs and Tobacco Product Use by Age Among Adults Who Smoke: Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Nationally Representative Sample

“…1 Likewise, the association of older age with positive tobacco views in this study is consistent with greater tobacco health risk misperceptions among adults with increasing age. 33 Consistent with prior work, older age was associated with being less likely to report important people use ECs. 16 However, adults (especially adults over 55 years) who reported EC use by important people were more likely to have used ECs in the past month.…”

“…1 The EC norms findings are in parallel with increased EC risk perceptions with increasing age. 33 In an international survey, respondents with increasing age were less likely to perceive that society approved of ECs. 16 Potential reasons for the observed anti-CC and anti-EC norms with increasing age may stem from longstanding exposure to anti-smoking messages, increased stigma associated with smoking, and increased smoking regulation (eg, indoor smoking bans), along with concerns regarding newer products such as ECs.…”