Background
Smoking is a global health risk known to elevate hemoglobin (HB) levels through its effects on hematopoiesis. Urine cotinine, a metabolite strongly correlated with serum cotinine, serves as an effective biomarker for assessing smoking status. This study aimed to explore the relationship between urinary cotinine levels and both HB and hematocrit (HCT) levels in a Korean population.
Methods
The study analyzed 4,454 healthy participants, categorized into three groups based on urine cotinine tertiles. Steiger’s Z tests were used to assess correlations between HB, HCT levels, and urine cotinine. After adjusting for clinical variables, multiple linear regression was employed to evaluate the relationship between urine cotinine levels and HB/HCT. Receiver operating characteristic curves helped determine the cut-off values for urine cotinine in relation to HB and HCT levels.
Results
After adjusting for covariates, a positive correlation was found between urine cotinine and both HB and HCT levels. HB levels were 18% higher in the second tertile and 23% higher in the highest tertile than the lowest. Similarly, HCT levels increased by 44% in the second tertile and 50% in the highest tertile. The highest tertiles of HB and HCT had values of 504.650 and 202.950, respectively, with area under the curve values of 0.634 for HB and 0.616 for HCT.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates a significant correlation between urine cotinine levels and elevated HB and HCT levels in a representative Korean population. Clinicians should consider urine cotinine levels when assessing anemia in smokers or individuals exposed to secondhand smoke. Further research is needed to validate these findings.

Background
The use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) among Korean adults has been steadily increasing since they were first introduced in 2017. It is known that smoking combustible cigarettes (CCs) adversely affects the serum lipid profile and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the health impacts of HTPs remain under- researched. This study, therefore, aims to explore the effects of HTP use on serum lipid levels.
Methods
This study involved 10,309 participants, selected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII-1 and VIII conducted between 2018 and 2021. Participants were categorized based on their smoking status: “HTPs ever user” included dual, triple, and past HTP users; “current HTPs only user” for those exclusively using HTPs; “current CCs only user” for those exclusively smoking CCs; and “never smoker.” Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of smoking type on serum lipid concentrations.
Results
The analysis revealed that the “HTPs ever user” group had a higher odds ratio (OR) for elevated total cholesterol compared to the “never smoker” group (OR, 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.92). The likelihood of having high low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol was greatest in the “current HTPs only user” group when compared to “never smokers” (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.01–2.89).
Conclusion
The findings indicate that exclusive use of HTPs is linked to an increased level of serum LDL-cholesterol. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to fully determine the health risks associated with HTPs.

Background
The use of e-cigarettes is increasing globally, particularly among young adults. Although several use them to quit smoking, their effects are controversial. The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) was used to assess nicotine dependence in the smoking cessation process. This study examined changes in FTND scores among young adults using different types of cigarettes over a 1-year period.
Methods
Prospective cohort data were collected from cigarette users at higher education institutions in the lower northern region of Thailand to analyze changes in FTND scores over a 1-year period. E-cigarette users and combined users were compared with conventional cigarette users. A marginal structural model (MSM) with an inverse probability of weighting (IPW) was used to adjust for time-dependent and time-independent confounders.
Results
Of the 133 participants, 58 were e-cigarette users (43.6%), 33 were combined cigarette users (24.8%), and 42 were conventional cigarette users (31.6%). The results revealed that when both time-dependent and time-independent confounders were adjusted using MSM with IPW, e-cigarette users had a 0.20 decrease in the mean FTND score, and combined users had a 0.47 decrease in the mean FTND score compared to conventional cigarette users. However, the difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion
The use of e-cigarettes or combined cigarettes did not significantly affect nicotine dependence levels in young adults over a 1-year period. Consequently, e-cigarettes should not be recommended to reduce nicotine dependence among young adult cigarette users. Further studies are required to determine whether e-cigarettes affect smoking cessation rates.

Background
Tobacco use has been the leading cause of disease and death in South Korea. Early detection of tobacco use and evidence-based interventions play pivotal roles in facilitating tobacco cessation.
Methods
In accordance with the earlier iterations of the Lifetime Health Maintenance Program (2009) and recent recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF; 2021), two themes were chosen for investigation: the identification of and intervention for tobacco use. The USPSTF recommendations were formulated by conducting an overview of reviews. In this study, literature searches and quality assessments of reviews were conducted.
Results
The findings highlighted the efficacy of physician-led identification and advising in promoting tobacco cessation, with robust evidence supporting the implementation of behavioral and pharmacological interventions. These interventions significantly increased the likelihood of successful cessation compared with usual care. Digital interventions, such as internet- or mobile-based interventions, showed additive effects for quitting.
Conclusion
Identification and targeted interventions are essential for tobacco cessation. By leveraging evidencebased strategies and enhancing access to resources, healthcare providers can empower individuals to achieve successful tobacco cessation and improve overall health outcomes.

Background
Although the association between smoking and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been established, the effects of tobacco products, including combustible cigarettes (CCs) and non-combustible nicotine or tobacco products (NNTPs), on HRQoL remain unclear. This study examined the association between tobacco use and HRQoL in Korean men.
Methods
Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2020 were analyzed. A total of 16,429 male participants aged ≥19 years completed the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D). Impaired HRQoL was defined as scoring in the lowest 20% of the EQ-5D index and having some or extreme problems in the following five domains of the EQ-5D: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/ discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the risk of impaired HRQoL in current tobacco users.
Results
Current tobacco users exhibited a significantly higher risk of impaired HRQoL compared with never users (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.92). Compared to never users, current tobacco users reported more problems with mobility and pain/discomfort (all P<0.05). Moreover, compared with former tobacco users, current tobacco users had a higher risk of impaired HRQoL (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.18–2.17). Compared to former tobacco users, current tobacco users reported more problems with mobility and pain/discomfort (all P<0.05).
Conclusion
Use of CCs and NNTPs is associated with impaired HRQoL in Korean men. Therefore, further interventions for lifestyle modification and smoking cessation treatments are required to reduce the risk of impaired HRQoL among current tobacco users.

Background
Insulin resistance contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Smoking leads to an increase in triglyceride levels, which, in turn, increases insulin resistance. Although the number of e-cigarette users has increased in recent years, few studies have investigated the association between ecigarette use and insulin resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between e-cigarette use and insulin resistance using the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index in Korean adults.
Methods
This study included 4,404 healthy adults aged ≥20 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2019 and 2020. Participants were categorized as never-smokers or ecigarette users, and the TyG index was categorized into low- and high-TyG index groups according to the median value (9.22). A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between e-cigarette smoking and insulin resistance.
Results
E-cigarette users had a higher TyG index than never smokers (e-cigarette: mean=3.95; never: mean=9.18; P<0.001). The e-cigarette users had a higher risk of being in the high TyG index group than never-smokers (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.84). In the subgroup analysis stratified by sex, age, and body mass index, a higher OR for a high TyG index was observed in men (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.03–2.08) and individuals aged 60 years or older (OR, 3.74; 95% CI, 1.14–12.30).
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that e-cigarette use is significantly associated with insulin resistance.

Citations

• Association Between Electronic Cigarette Use and Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Population-Based Study
  Wonseok Jeong, Min Ji Song, Ji Hye Shin, Ji Hyun Kim
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(11): 3616.     CrossRef

Background
Noncombustible nicotine or tobacco product (NNTP) use, and cigarette smoking are associated with a high likelihood of unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) among adolescents. However, no study has addressed the differences in UWCBs among non-users, single users of combustible cigarettes (CCs) or NNTPs and dual users. This study compared the frequencies of weight control behaviors according to the status of CC and NNTP use among Korean adolescents.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study of 25,094 adolescents who had attempted to reduce or maintain their body weight during the past 30 days, using data from the 15th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2019. Data on the status of CC and NNTP use, weight status, and weight control behaviors were obtained using self-report questionnaires. Subjects were categorized into four groups: non-users, cigarette-only users, NNTP-only users, and dual users.
Results
Among boys and girls, current smokers and NNTP users were 8.9%±0.3% and 5.5%±0.3%, and 4.2%±0.2% and 1.7%±0.1%, respectively. Among boys, NNTP-only users were more likely to engage in extreme weight control behaviors than non-users. Among girls, users of either CCs or NNTPs were more likely to engage in extreme weight control behaviors and less extreme weight control behaviors than non-users.
Conclusion
This study shows that users of either CCs or NNTPs are more likely to engage in UWCBs, and NNTP-only users are the most likely to do so.

Citations

• Reflecting on progress and challenges: the Korean Journal of Family Medicine in 2024
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(2): 55.     CrossRef
• The Interconnected Nature of Smoking, Depression, and Obesity in Behavioral Medicine
  Joung Sik Son
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(4): 181.     CrossRef

Although major countries, such as South Korea, have developed and disseminated national smoking cessation guidelines, these efforts have been limited to developing individual societies or specialized institution-based recommendations. Therefore, evidence-based clinical guidelines are essential for developing smoking cessation interventions and promoting effective smoking cessation treatments. This guideline targets frontline clinical practitioners involved in a smoking cessation treatment support program implemented in 2015 with the support of the National Health Insurance Service. The Guideline Development Group of 10 multidisciplinary smoking cessation experts employed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-ADOLOPMENT approach to review recent domestic and international research and guidelines and to determine evidence levels using the GRADE methodology. The guideline panel formulated six strong recommendations and one conditional recommendation regarding pharmacotherapy choices among general and special populations (mental disorders and chronic obstructive lung disease [COPD]). Strong recommendations favor varenicline rather than a nicotine patch or bupropion, using varenicline even if they are not ready to quit, using extended pharmacotherapy (>12 weeks) rather than standard treatment (8–12 weeks), or using pharmacotherapy for individuals with mental disorders or COPD. The conditional recommendation suggests combining varenicline with a nicotine patch instead of using varenicline alone. Aligned with the Korean Society of Medicine’s clinical guideline development process, this is South Korea’s first domestic smoking cessation treatment guideline that follows standardized guidelines. Primarily focusing on pharmacotherapy, it can serve as a foundation for comprehensive future smoking cessation clinical guidelines, encompassing broader treatment topics beyond medications.

Background
Although Indonesia has a considerable proportion of adolescent smokers, nationally representative studies of its determinants remain limited. The 2015 Indonesian Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) was conducted with school-age adolescents and provided information about smoking behavior. This study aimed to examine the prevalence, determinants, and correlates of tobacco use among adolescents in Indonesia using the GSHS survey.
Methods
A secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2015 Indonesian GSHS. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the determinants and correlates of tobacco use.
Results
Our analysis showed that 9.1% of school-age adolescents had used tobacco products in the past 30 days. Most were 13–15 years (61.7%) and had attempted to stop smoking (92.4%). After adjusting for covariates, significant risk factors associated with tobacco smoking were older age groups (prevalence odds ratio [POR], 3.01–9.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71–23.1), male (POR, 13.7; 95% CI, 8.71–21.5), psychological distress (POR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.05–1.90), smoking exposure (POR, 1.98–2.15; 95% CI, 1.35–3.42), and when both parents smoked (POR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.78–4.94). In addition, tobacco use was associated with other risky behaviors, including sex with multiple partners, using drugs, drinking alcohol, and being involved in physical fights.
Conclusion
Tobacco use is high among Indonesian adolescents. This prevalence highlights the need for a more stringent tobacco control policy and tailored cessation programs for adolescents by considering important modifiable determinants of tobacco use among adolescents, including risky smoking-related behaviors.

Citations

• Associação entre consumo de álcool, tabagismo e atividade física em adolescentes escolares sul-americanos
  José Ywgne, André Oliveira Werneck, Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni, Diego Giulliano Destro Christófaro, Fernanda Castro Monteiro, Ingrid Kelly Alves dos Santos Pinheiro, Kabir Prem Sadarangani, Rafael Miranda Tassitano, Danilo Rodrigues Pereira da Silva
  Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física & Saúde.2025; 29: 1.     CrossRef
• Correlation between religiosity, family functioning, and factors associated with substance use among secondary school students in high-risk areas
  Noor Adnin Ab Aziz, Suzaily Wahab, Rosnah Sutan, Muhammad Adib Baharom, Amirul Danial Azmi, Siti Azirah Asmai, Gerard Hutchinson
  PLOS One.2025; 20(7): e0308192.     CrossRef
• Predictor of smoking cessation among school-going adolescents in Indonesia: a secondary analysis based on the transtheoretical model of behavioral change
  Omid Dadras
  Frontiers in Psychiatry.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Pharmacotherapy guidelines for smoking cessation in primary healthcare clinics
  Cheol Min Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Yoo Bin Seo, Eon Sook Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 230.     CrossRef
• Exploring Behavioral and Pharmacological Interventions against Excessive Tobacco Use
  Dalmacito A. Cordero
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(4): 231.     CrossRef

Background
Smoking can reduce taste sensitivity, the ability to sense various tastes, and diet quality and can increase the incidence of diseases such as hypertension. This study aimed to analyze the association between the smoking amount, subjective salt preference, and salt-related eating behaviors.
Methods
Data of more than 16 million individuals from the Korean Community Health Survey were used. Forest plots were drawn to compare the cumulative odds ratios of salt taste preference and salt-related eating behaviors, adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, education level, household income, marital status, and drinking status at various smoking levels.
Results
Subjective salt preference and salt-related eating behaviors increased with smoking amount; the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for smoking >20 cigarettes were higher than those for smoking <20 cigarettes. For daily smokers, the AOR was 1.27 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22–1.31) for 1–5 cigarettes per day and 1.68 (95% CI, 1.65–1.71) for 16–20 cigarettes per day (P<0.001). Smokers were more likely to have more frequent salt-related eating behaviors than nonsmokers.
Conclusion
The subjective salt preference of smokers was higher than that of nonsmokers. Additionally, smokers used salt or soy sauce and dipped fried food in soy sauce more frequently than nonsmokers, which was also related to smoking amount.

Background
Recent studies have reported that chronic mental health problems often emerge in young adulthood. This study elucidated the independent effects of smoking and drinking on depressed mood in young adults by sex.
Methods
We used Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted in 2014, 2016, and 2018. A total of 3,391 participants aged 19–35 years, without serious chronic diseases, were recruited for this study. Depression was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
Results
Smoking behavior, current smoking, and number of days smoked were significantly associated with higher PHQ-9 scores in both men and women (all P<0.05). However, past and ever smoking were positively associated with PHQ-9 scores only in women (all P<0.001). Regarding alcohol consumption, the age at which drinking first began was negatively associated with PHQ-9 scores in both men and women (all P<0.001), but the amount of alcohol consumed at 1 time was positively associated with PHQ-9 scores only in women (P=0.013). Men who drank 2–4 times a month and women who had not drunk during the past year had the lowest PHQ-9 scores.
Conclusion
Smoking and alcohol consumption were independently associated with depressed mood in young Korean adults, which was more pronounced in women, and exhibited sex-specific characteristics.

Citations

• Women’s Health and Primary Care
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Pharmacotherapy guidelines for smoking cessation in primary healthcare clinics
  Cheol Min Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Yoo Bin Seo, Eon Sook Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 230.     CrossRef

Background
Since the introduction of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in Korea in 2017, their annual sales have increased. Several studies have investigated the perceptions of HTPs and smoking cessation behaviors. For the first time, In 2019, questions focused on HTP use were introduced in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES). This study aimed to compare smoking cessation behaviors between HTP users and conventional cigarette smokers using KNHANES data.
Methods
Data of 947 current adult smokers from the 8th KNHNES (2019) were analyzed. Current smokers were divided into conventional cigarette (CC)–only, HTP-only, and dual-use groups. The general characteristics of the three groups were investigated. Differences in current intention to quit smoking and past attempts to quit smoking among the three groups were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis by IBM SPSS ver. 25.0.
Results
HTP-only users demonstrated fewer future smoking cessation plans (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.398; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.195–0.813; P=0.012) and fewer smoking cessation attempts in the past year (AOR, 0.533; 95% CI, 0.298–0.954; P=0.034) than CC-only smokers. However, there was no significant difference between dual-use (CC+HTP) and CC-only smokers.
Conclusion
While dual-use and CC-only smokers showed similar smoking cessation behaviors, HTP-only users had fewer previous attempts to quit smoking and were less likely to be currently ready to quit smoking. These findings can be explained by a decrease in the need to quit smoking due to the convenience of HTP and the perception that HTPs are less harmful than CC.

Citations

• Association between type of smoking and smoking cessation plans in Korean adults: A nationwide cross-sectional study
  Kitae Park, Dan Bi Kim, Jae Yong Shin, Chung-Mo Nam, Eun-Cheol Park
  Tobacco Induced Diseases.2025; 23(February): 1.     CrossRef
• Neue Konsumformen von Nikotin
  Anna Rahofer, Katharina Sternberg, Tobias Rüther, Andrea Rabenstein
  PSYCH up2date.2025; 19(03): 217.     CrossRef
• Pharmacotherapy guidelines for smoking cessation in primary healthcare clinics
  Cheol Min Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Yoo Bin Seo, Eon Sook Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 230.     CrossRef
• Three in four smokers want to quit tobacco (reference to reassessing the smoking target in Japan): findings from the JASTIS2021 study
  Masayuki Sugihara, Takahiro Tabuchi
  Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.2024; 29: 28.     CrossRef
• A Scoping Review of Behavioural Studies on Heated Tobacco Products
  Ian M Fearon, Sarah F Cordery, Martin Fitzpatrick, Sarah Weaver, Matthew Stevenson, Erika Grandolfo, Layla Malt, Keith Thompson, Thomas Nahde
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Is Using Heated Tobacco Products Helpful in Smoking Cessation?
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(3): 127.     CrossRef

Background
After the advent of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in 2017, domestic cigarette sales declined until 2019, but have increased in South Korea since 2020. This study aimed to analyze tobacco use and cessation behavior among HTP users compared with conventional cigarette (CC) users.
Methods
We analyzed data from the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019). Of 6,188 study participants, 1,181 were current tobacco product users (single, dual, and triple), including all combinations of CCs, HTPs, and electronic cigarettes (ECs). Tobacco use and cessation behaviors among single and dual users of CCs and HTPs were assessed using various categorical methods.
Results
In 2019, proportions of HTP use in men and women aged ≥19 years in South Korea were 8.8% and 1.5%, respectively, and those of single, dual, and triple users were 23.6%, 58.0%, and 18.4%, respectively. Dual users had more tobacco use than CC only and HTP only users (all P<0.001). Each daily user accounted for a lower percentage of attempt and preparation stages for cessation than intermittent users (all P<0.001, except for dual users).
Conclusion
In this study, we analyzed the differences in tobacco use and cessation behavior among CC and HTP users in various populations in South Korea. Additionally, we found that all novel tobacco product users had already experienced CCs in adulthood. Further studies that address HTP’s harmful effects in humans are necessary.

Citations

• Relationship between insulin resistance surrogate markers with diabetes and dyslipidemia: A Bayesian network analysis of Korean adults
  Jaeyeop Choi, Jonghyun Kim, Hyun Sook Oh, Marwan Al-Nimer
  PLOS One.2025; 20(5): e0323329.     CrossRef
• Pharmacotherapy guidelines for smoking cessation in primary healthcare clinics
  Cheol Min Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Yoo Bin Seo, Eon Sook Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 230.     CrossRef
• Heated tobacco product use frequency, smoking quit attempts, and smoking reduction among Mexican adult smokers
  Lizeth Cruz-Jiménez, Inti Barrientos-Gutiérrez, Dèsirée Vidaña-Pérez, Katia Gallegos-Carrillo, Edna Arillo-Santillán, Rosibel Rodríguez-Bolaños, James W. Hardin, Minji Kim, James F. Thrasher
  Tobacco Induced Diseases.2024; 22(May): 1.     CrossRef
• A Scoping Review of Behavioural Studies on Heated Tobacco Products
  Ian M Fearon, Sarah F Cordery, Martin Fitzpatrick, Sarah Weaver, Matthew Stevenson, Erika Grandolfo, Layla Malt, Keith Thompson, Thomas Nahde
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Current status of tobacco use, cessation and control policy in Korea
  Cheol Min Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 789.     CrossRef

Background
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) as a known carcinogen. This study aimed to investigate the association between exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and NNAL concentrations in non-smokers.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study based on data from the 2016 to 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Urine NNAL concentrations were categorized into tertiles of 3,615 study participants who were non-smokers. All sampling and weight variables were stratified, and analyses to account for the complex sampling design were conducted.
Results
The overall, male, and female percentages of SHS exposure among non-smokers were 22.4%, 29.2%, and 20.4%, respectively. The geometric means of urine NNAL concentrations were 1.896±0.098 pg/mL and 1.094±0.028 pg/mL in the SHS exposure and non-exposure groups, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, in the total group, the geometric mean of urine NNAL concentrations was significantly higher in the SHS exposure group than in the SHS non-exposure group (adjusted P-value <0.001). Compared with the non-exposure group, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest NNAL tertile group of overall SHS exposure in the total, men, and women groups were 2.44 (1.95–3.05), 1.65 (1.08–2.53), and 2.73 (2.11–3.52), respectively, after full adjustment.
Conclusion
The urine NNAL concentration in the SHS exposure group was significantly higher than that in the non-exposure group. Exposure to SHS was associated with a higher risk of elevated urine NNAL concentrations in non-smokers.

Citations

• Differences in biomarkers of potential harm after 2+ years of tobacco heating system use compared to cigarette smoking: a cross-sectional study
  S. Michael Ansari, Patrice Leroy, Guillaume de La Bourdonnaye, Sandrine Pouly, Lindsay Reese, Christelle Haziza
  Biomarkers.2025; 30(2): 178.     CrossRef
• Secondhand smoke exposure at home in a representative sample of adults in Poland in 2024: A cross-sectional survey
  Mateusz Jankowski
  European Journal of Health Policy, Humanization of Care and Medical Ethics.2025; 4(1): 41.     CrossRef
• High throughput and sensitive quantitation of tobacco-specific alkaloids and nitrosamines in wastewater
  Zhe Wang, Qiuda Zheng, Benjamin J. Tscharke, Jinglong Li, Jake W. O'Brien, Brad Patterson, Zeyang Zhao, Kevin V. Thomas, Jochen F. Mueller, Phong K. Thai
  Talanta.2024; 277: 126401.     CrossRef
• Association Between Second-Hand Smoke Exposure and Respiratory Symptoms Among the General Population of Non-smoker Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
  Mohammed Madkhali, Safa Shariff, Raghad Albalawi, Abdulrahman Aqeel, Abdulqader Alshahrani, Raghd Alabdullah, Raghad Alasmari, Wajd Aljohani
  Cureus.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Short-Term Effects of Side-Stream Smoke on Nerve Growth Factor and Its Receptors TrKA and p75NTR in a Group of Non-Smokers
  Anna Maria Stabile, Alessandra Pistilli, Desirée Bartolini, Eleonora Angelucci, Marco Dell’Omo, Gabriele Di Sante, Mario Rende
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(16): 10317.     CrossRef

Background
Smoking is a preventable cause of chronic morbidity. Patient empowerment is a process through which people establish greater control over their health-related decisions and actions. To assess the effect of patient empowerment versus health education on the nicotine dependence score and progress of patients under different stages of smoking cessation.
Methods
This was a single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial that included 76 smokers attending family medicine clinics. Participants were divided into two groups: empowerment and health education groups. Their nicotine-dependence score and smoking cessation stage were identified. All study participants were subjected to five health education sessions with a 3-month follow-up period.
Results
The mean nicotine-dependence score decreased significantly in both groups after the intervention. This decrease was slightly higher in the empowerment group; however, the difference was not statistically significant. After the intervention, 16.7% of the health education and 30.0% of the empowerment group transitioned from stage 1 to stages 2–4 of smoking cessation, with the change being statistically significant only in the empowerment group. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of study participants who stopped smoking between the health education and empowerment groups.
Conclusion
Both the empowerment model and traditional health education have similar positive effects on decreasing the nicotine-dependence level. There was a significant improvement in the stage of change for patients under the empowerment model, although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the number of participants who stopped smoking.

Citations

• The independent and moderator role of communicative health literacy on health, health behaviour and health care utilisation: a population based cross-sectional study
  F. Vincze, F.E.A. Israel, R. Ádány, É. Bíró
  Public Health.2025; 245: 105794.     CrossRef
• Behavioral health care provider’s beliefs, confidence, and knowledge in treating cigarette smoking in relation to their use of the 5A’s intervention
  Midhat Z. Jafry, Jayda Martinez, Tzuan A. Chen, Maggie Britton, Isabel Martinez Leal, Anastasia Rogova, Bryce Kyburz, Teresa Williams, Mayuri Patel, Brian J. Carter, Lorraine R. Reitzel
  Addictive Behaviors Reports.2023; 17: 100493.     CrossRef
• Developing Smoking Cessation Program for Female Smokers and Assessment of Its Impacts
  Kyung Hyun Suh
  STRESS.2023; 31(4): 189.     CrossRef
• Current status of health promotion in Korea
  Soo Young Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 776.     CrossRef
• Public Health Intervention for Smoking Cessation
  Soo Young Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(5): 343.     CrossRef

Background
Tobacco smoking is associated with several diseases and deaths in older Koreans. This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with smoking cessation in older Koreans.
Methods
We selected 579 subjects who started smoking before the age of 65 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2018. We excluded the subjects who quit smoking before the age of 65 years, and then categorized the rest of subjects into those who stopped smoking after the age of 65 years and those who are constant smokers. Multivariable logistic analysis was performed to evaluate the factors related to smoking cessation among older Koreans.
Results
Among the participants, 66.1% were persistent smokers. After multivariable analysis, the factors significantly associated with smoking cessation were as follows: being in the age group of 75–79 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.12–7.83), being in the age group of 70–74 years (aOR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.72–5.61), a family history of ischemic heart disease (aOR, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.09–10.35), and having had no cancer screening (aOR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.18–0.70).
Conclusion
Further efforts to identify the factors related to smoking cessation will help formulate a smoking cessation policy.

Citations

• Current status of health promotion in Korea
  Soo Young Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 776.     CrossRef

Background
This study aimed to investigate trends in the prevalence of current smokers and motivation to quit among Korean male cancer survivors.
Methods
Out of 20,012 men who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V (2010–2012), VI (2013–2015), and VII (2016–2017), 742 cancer survivors were included. A cancer survivor was defined as a person who concurred to the item, “The cancer has been diagnosed by a doctor” in the health questionnaire. Smoking status was classified as current, former, and never smokers. Regarding motivation to quit smoking, we defined those who had a willingness to quit within 6 months as the willing group. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine trends in the prevalence of current smokers and the proportion of the willing group among current smokers.
Results
Overall, 3.7% of Korean men who participated in the study were cancer survivors. Current smokers constituted 19.5%, 19.1%, and 15.3% of cancer survivors in phases V, VI, and VII respectively which did not show significant changes (P for trend=0.33). However, the proportion of current smokers in the non-cancer group was significantly reduced to 46.6%, 41.2%, and 38.9% in phases V, VI, and VII, respectively (P for trend <0.001). The proportion of those with a motivation to quit smoking did not show a significant trend in the cancer survivors (P for trend=0.964) and non-cancer group (P for trend=0.884).
Conclusion
Prevalence of current smokers and motivation to quit in Korean male cancer survivors did not show significant trends.

Citations

• Current status of health promotion in Korea
  Soo Young Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 776.     CrossRef
• Smoking Cessation in Cancer Survivors
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(4): 258.     CrossRef

Background
Many people use both combustible cigarette (CC) and electronic cigarette (EC). We compared nicotine dependence among CC, EC, and dual users using questionnaires and urinary cotinine levels.
Methods
Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014–2017) databases were analyzed; 3,917 CC, EC, and dual users were administered the urinary cotinine test, and 1,045 current CC and dual users completed the Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) questionnaires. Weighted geometric means of urine cotinine levels were compared between exclusive CC, exclusive EC, and dual users. The distribution rate, based on time to first cigarette (TTFC), cigarettes per day (CPD), and the HSI was analyzed in two weighted groups, exclusive CC and dual users.
Results
Among those who currently use any type of cigarette, 89.4%, 1.4%, and 9.2% were exclusive CC, exclusive EC, and dual users, respectively. Weighted geometric means of urine cotinine were highest in dual users (1,356.4 ng/mL), followed by exclusive CC (1,270.3 ng/mL), and exclusive EC (867.7 ng/mL) with significant differences between all three groups (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in CPD between exclusive CC and dual users (P=0.626). The proportion of TTFC ≤5 minutes was 21.5% and 29.5% in the two groups, respectively (P=0.010); however, HSI differences in the two groups was marginal (P=0.557).
Conclusion
In this study, the urinary cotinine value could distinguish the three groups, CC, EC, and dual users, but the questionnaire using HSI could not distinguish the three groups.

Citations

• Protocol for the development of a vaping cessation intervention for young adult veterans
  Neal Doran, Samantha Hurst, Jie Liu, Omar El-Shahawy, Mark Myers, Paul Krebs
  Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications.2024; 39: 101309.     CrossRef
• Smoking Cessation Treatment in Primary Care
  Hye-ji An, Cheol-Min Lee, Yoo-Bin Seo, Eon-Sook Lee, Yu-Jin Paek
  Korean Journal of Family Practice.2024; 14(4): 184.     CrossRef
• Optimum Urine Cotinine and NNAL Levels to Distinguish Smokers from Non-Smokers by the Changes in Tobacco Control Policy in Korea from 2008 to 2018
  Eun Young Park, Min Kyung Lim, Eunjung Park, Yoonjung Kim, Dohoon Lee, Kyungwon Oh
  Nicotine & Tobacco Research.2022; 24(11): 1821.     CrossRef
• Current status of tobacco use, cessation and control policy in Korea
  Cheol Min Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 789.     CrossRef
• Current status of health promotion in Korea
  Soo Young Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 776.     CrossRef
• Recent Trends of Research and Guidelines on Pharmacotherapy for Smoking Cessation
  Choon-Young Kim
  Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2022; 13(4): 107.     CrossRef
• Nicotine Dependence of Electronic Cigarette, Dual Combustible and Electronic Cigarette Users
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(3): 189.     CrossRef
• Recent Updates of Pharmacotherapy for Smoking Cessation
  Ju Sam Hwang, Cheol Min Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Practice.2021; 11(6): 403.     CrossRef

Heated tobacco products (HTPs), a hybrid between conventional and electronic cigarettes, were first launched in South Korea in June 2017. Owing to advertisements stating that HTPs are odorless, tar-free, and less harmful to health, the sales of HTPs have grown quickly enough to account for about 10% of the total tobacco market in a year. HTP use by young, highly educated, and high-income groups had a significant impact on both the overall tobacco market over the past 3 years and the smoking and quitting behaviors of smokers. Based on national smoking rate statistics, tobacco sales trends, and the number of visitors to smoking cessation clinics, the following changes have been identified: (1) The decline in current smoking rates has slowed or rose in some groups. (2) The decline in total cigarette sales has slowed but rose again in the first quarter of 2020. (3) The number of visitors to smoking cessation clinics decreased just after the advent of HTPs. These results may be due to the insufficient support of tobacco regulation policies but also coincide chronologically with the appearance of HTPs in South Korea. It is necessary to investigate the usage rate of various tobacco products, including HTPs and e-cigarettes, to examine the health risks of novel tobacco products and provide accurate information to users and policymakers. Finally, tobacco companies are continuously developing new product concepts to escape the regulation of existing cigarettes; thus, comprehensive management measures for all nicotine-containing products are needed.

Citations

• Maintaining optimal cardiovascular health metrics and carotid intima-media thickness among Korean adolescents
  Fumie Kaneko, Hokyou Lee, Jee-Seon Shim, Hyeon Chang Kim
  Clinical Hypertension.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Assessing use of inhalable nicotine products within complex markets: the dilemma of heated tobacco products
  Connor Richard Miller, Steve S Xu, Danielle M Smith, Edward Sutanto, Maciej Lukasz Goniewicz, Anne C K Quah, Geoffrey T Fong
  Tobacco Control.2024; 33(1): 103.     CrossRef
• The smoking population is not hardening in South Korea: a study using the Korea Community Health Survey from 2010 to 2018
  Boyoung Jung, Jung Ah Lee, Ye-Jee Kim, Hong-Jun Cho
  Tobacco Control.2024; 33(2): 171.     CrossRef
• Heated Tobacco Product Use and Mental Health: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2018–2020)
  Young-Gyun Seo, Sungkyu Lee, Min Kyung Lim, Yu-Jin Paek
  International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.2024; 22(3): 979.     CrossRef
• Perception of heated tobacco products and support for regulations: a cross-sectional study in Hong Kong
  Yongda Socrates Wu, Yee Tak Derek Cheung, Sai Yin Ho, Henry Sau Chai Tong, Vienna Wai Yin Lai, Tai Hing Lam, Man Ping Wang
  Tobacco Control.2024; 33(e1): e132.     CrossRef
• Heated tobacco products do not help smokers quit or prevent relapse: a longitudinal study in Japan
  Satomi Odani, Kanami Tsuno, Israel T Agaku, Takahiro Tabuchi
  Tobacco Control.2024; 33(4): 472.     CrossRef
• A Scoping Review of Behavioural Studies on Heated Tobacco Products
  Ian M Fearon, Sarah F Cordery, Martin Fitzpatrick, Sarah Weaver, Matthew Stevenson, Erika Grandolfo, Layla Malt, Keith Thompson, Thomas Nahde
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting COPD: A nationwide population-based study in South Korea
  Seungeun Oh, Hyungkyun Mok, Kyuhee Jo
  Medicine.2024; 103(39): e39901.     CrossRef
• Association between the dual use of electronic and conventional cigarettes and NAFLD status in Korean men
  Minjung Han, Seogsong Jeong, Jihun Song, Sun Jae Park, Cheol Min Lee, Kiheon Lee, Sang Min Park
  Tobacco Induced Diseases.2023; 21(February): 1.     CrossRef
• JUUL preference among Korean adult tobacco users and its effect on attempts to quit tobacco: A follow- up survey four months post JUUL launch
  Ju Sam Hwang^{+, Kiheon Lee+, Choon-Young Kim, Heejin Kim, Sungroul Kim, Cheol Lee
  Tobacco Induced Diseases.2023; 21(March): 1.     CrossRef}
• Electronic device or regulated tobacco product? Learning from the diffusion of heated tobacco products in Spain
  J.M. Martín-Álvarez, A. Almeida, A.A. Golpe, E. Asensio
  Public Health.2023; 219: 61.     CrossRef
• Is Using Heated Tobacco Products Helpful in Smoking Cessation?
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(3): 127.     CrossRef
• Comparison of the Smoking Cessation of Heated Tobacco Product Users and Conventional Cigarette Smokers in Korea
  Doyeon Won, Wonyoung Jung, Dongwook Shin
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2023; 44(3): 151.     CrossRef
• The relationship between heated cigarette smoking and blood white blood cell count: a population-based cross-sectional study
  D.-H. Koh
  Public Health.2023; 222: 154.     CrossRef
• The Need for Policy Changes for Tobacco End Game
  Cheol Min Lee
  Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2023; 14(3): 118.     CrossRef
• Relationship between heated tobacco product use and allergic rhinitis in Korean adults
  Young-Gyun Seo, Yu-Jin Paek, Joo-Hee Kim, Jwa-Kyung Kim, Hye-Mi Noh
  Tobacco Induced Diseases.2023; 21(November): 1.     CrossRef
• Characterizing Heated Tobacco Product Use Among Adult Cigarette Smokers and Nicotine Vaping Product Users in the 2018 ITC Four Country Smoking & Vaping Survey
  Connor R Miller, Edward Sutanto, Danielle M Smith, Sara C Hitchman, Shannon Gravely, Hua-Hie Yong, Ron Borland, Richard J O’Connor, K Michael Cummings, Geoffrey T Fong, Andrew Hyland, Anne C K Quah, Maciej L Goniewicz
  Nicotine & Tobacco Research.2022; 24(4): 493.     CrossRef
• Heated tobacco products for smoking cessation and reducing smoking prevalence
  Harry Tattan-Birch, Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Loren Kock, Erikas Simonavicius, Leonie Brose, Sarah Jackson, Lion Shahab, Jamie Brown
  Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Perceived relative harm of heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes and its association with use in smoke-free places: A cross-sectional analysis of Korean adults
  Choon-Young Kim^*+, Kiheon Lee^*+, Cheol Min Lee, Sungroul Kim, Hong-Jun Cho
  Tobacco Induced Diseases.2022; 20(February): 1.     CrossRef
• Subjective Changes in Tobacco Product Use among Korean Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic
  Jieun Hwang
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(6): 3272.     CrossRef
• Methods of the 2020 (Wave 1) International Tobacco Control (ITC) Korea Survey
  Anne Quah, Sungkyu Lee, Hong Gwan Seo, Sung-il Cho, Sujin Lim, Yeol Kim, Steve Xu, Matthew Grey, Mi Yan, Christian Boudreau, Mary Thompson, Pete Driezen, Geoffrey Fong
  Tobacco Prevention & Cessation.2022; 8(March): 1.     CrossRef
• Evaluation of Japanese university students' perception of smoking, interest in quitting, and smoking behavior: An examination and public health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic
  Makoto Aoike, Yukihiro Mori, Kiyoshi Hotta, Yukihiro Shigeno, Yuka Aoyama, Mamoru Tanaka, Hana Kouzai, Hatsumi Kawamura, Masato Tsurudome, Morihiro Ito
  Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics.2022; 16(3): 118.     CrossRef
• Factors Associated with Quit Intentions among Adult Smokers in South Korea: Findings from the 2020 ITC Korea Survey
  Minjung Han, Donghee Seo, Yeol Kim, Hong Gwan Seo, Sung-il Cho, Sungkyu Lee, Sujin Lim, Susan C. Kaai, Anne C. K. Quah, Mi Yan, Steve S. Xu, Geoffrey T. Fong
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(17): 10839.     CrossRef
• Comparison of Tobacco Use and Cessation Behavior between Conventional Cigarette and Heated Tobacco Product Users: Based on the Analyses of the Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019
  Hyeree Yu, Cheol Min Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2022; 43(5): 296.     CrossRef
• Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia after Combined Use of Conventional and Heat-Not-Burn Cigarettes: A Case Report
  Bo Hyoung Kang, Dong Hyun Lee, Mee Sook Roh, Soo-Jung Um, Insu Kim
  Medicina.2022; 58(11): 1527.     CrossRef
• Current status of tobacco use, cessation and control policy in Korea
  Cheol Min Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 789.     CrossRef
• Prevalence and predictors of heated tobacco products use among male ever smokers: results from a Korean longitudinal study
  Jeeeun Yi, Cheol Min Lee, Seung-sik Hwang, Sung-il Cho
  BMC Public Health.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Nicotine Dependence of Electronic Cigarette, Dual Combustible and Electronic Cigarette Users
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(3): 189.     CrossRef
• Prevalence and reasons for use of Heated Tobacco Products (HTP) in Europe: an analysis of Eurobarometer data in 28 countries
  Anthony A. Laverty, Constantine I. Vardavas, Filippos T. Filippidis
  The Lancet Regional Health - Europe.2021; 8: 100159.     CrossRef
• Combined Associations of Changes in Noncombustible Nicotine or Tobacco Product and Combustible Cigarette Use Habits With Subsequent Short-Term Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among South Korean Men: A Nationwide Cohort Study
  Seulggie Choi, Kiheon Lee, Sang Min Park
  Circulation.2021; 144(19): 1528.     CrossRef
• Bibliometric Analysis of Publications Related to Heated Tobacco Products Reported over the Period 2015-2020
  Min Joo Jeon, Su Mi Lee, Kiheon Lee, Eunbyul Cho, Joo Young Kim, Woo Kyung Bae, Jong Soo Han, Hyejin Lee, Se Young Jung
  Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2021; 12(2): 74.     CrossRef
• Reasons for Using Heated Tobacco Products among South Korean Adults
  Ji Min Kim, Hong-Jun Cho
  Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2021; 12(2): 53.     CrossRef
• Are Heated Tobacco Product Users Less Likely to Quit than Cigarette Smokers? Findings from THINK (Tobacco and Health IN Korea) Study
  Cheol Min Lee, Choon-Young Kim, Kiheon Lee, Sungroul Kim
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(22): 8622.     CrossRef
• The Change of Tobacco Use Pattern among Adolescents after the Introduction of Novel Tobacco Products
  Cheol Min Lee
  Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2020; 11(2): 84.     CrossRef

Background
Although many studies have demonstrated that the first cigarette in the morning increases the prevalence of smoking-related morbidity, limited studies have examined the impact of time to first cigarette (TTFC) on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Thus, we assessed this relationship using nationally-representative data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII-1 (2016).
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from 577 current male smokers aged 30–59 years, after excluding those with a certain disease. Participants were divided into four categories according to TTFC (≤5 min, 6–30 min, 31–60 min, >60 min). HRQoL was measured using self-reported EuroQol-5 (EQ-5D). The relationship between TTFC and EQ-5D index was analyzed using a multivariate-adjusted generalized linear model to assess how HRQoL varies according to TTFC. After adjusting for confounders, a multivariate-adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed to identify which of the five dimensions of the EQ-5D affected the HRQoL according to TTFC.
Results
The generalized linear analysis indicated that as TTFC decreased (6–30 min, 31–60 min vs. >60 min), the EQ-5D index score decreased significantly (P=0.037). Shorter TTFC (≤5 min vs. >60 min) was associated with higher pain/discomfort (odds ratio [OR], 3.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39–10.48) and anxiety/depression (OR, 7.58; 95% CI, 1.75–32.88).
Conclusion
Higher nicotine dependence was associated with impaired HRQoL. These results may be used to improve smoking cessation treatment outcomes.

Citations

• Current status of tobacco use, cessation and control policy in Korea
  Cheol Min Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 789.     CrossRef

Background
Recently, single-person households have increased in Korea and this trend may have potential public health implications and affect various health behaviors. This study investigated the associations between living alone and health behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption among Korean adults.
Methods
We used data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2013 and 2015 and a total of 17,088 adults were included. We performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis and calculated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results
Single-person households accounted for about 10% of the total participants. The proportions of currently smoking and heavy alcohol consumption were higher among individuals living alone than those living together among younger women and middle-aged and elderly men and women. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, living alone was associated with increased odds of currently smoking compared to living together among middle-aged men and women (OR, 7.37; 95% CI, 2.33–23.32 in men and OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.04–5.36 in women) after adjusting for confounding variables.
Conclusion
From this nationwide, population-based study, we found that living alone is associated with increased odds of currently smoking, especially in middle-aged people. Public health concerns may be warranted for middle-aged single-person households to reduce health risks related to smoking.

Citations

• Associations of social isolation with sleep duration and sleep quality in the elderly: Mediating influence of depression
  Hong-Ying Yang, Lian Li, Lu-Jie Yu, Guo-Lin Bian
  World Journal of Psychiatry.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Early-term heterogeneous trajectories of patient-reported outcome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a multicenter and prospective longitudinal study
  Jinbo Zhao, Yongchao Hou, Yuan Chu, Min He, Renting Xie, Hui Liu, Yahui Wang, Li Li
  European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Living alone and cancer mortality by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status among US working‐age adults
  Hyunjung Lee, Gopal K. Singh, Ahmedin Jemal, Farhad Islami
  Cancer.2024; 130(1): 86.     CrossRef
• Association between living alone and all-cause mortality of young and middle-aged patients with acute myocardial infarction: analysis of the China Acute Myocardial Infarction (CAMI) registry
  Yu Jiang, Jin-Gang Yang, Hai-Yan Qian, Yue-Jin Yang
  BMC Public Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Smaller household size and higher prevalence of serious psychological distress in younger people and never-married people: a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Japan
  Kimiko Tomioka, Midori Shima, Keigo Saeki
  Frontiers in Public Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Longitudinal associations between living alone, childlessness and mental health and mortality in ageing adults in Thailand
  Supa Pengpid, Karl Peltzer, Dararatt Anantanasuwong, Wasin Kaewchankha
  Global Transitions.2024; 6: 145.     CrossRef
• The influencing factors of health status among low-income individuals living alone in Wuxi, China
  Shiming Li, Yue Wu, Queping Yang, Ying Jiang, Haohao Zhu
  Scientific Reports.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Стресові стани українців, які проживають соло, під час війни
  Дар’я Яшкіна
  Sociological Studios.2024; (2(25)): 34.     CrossRef
• Determinants of Problem Drinking by Regional Variation among Adult Males in Single-Person Households: Geographically Weighted Regression Model Analysis
  Junggeun Ahn, Heeseung Choi, Jiu Kim
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2023; 53(1): 101.     CrossRef
• Six-year mortality associated with living alone and loneliness in Swedish men and women born in 1930
  Masuma Novak, Margda Waern, Lena Johansson, Anna Zettergren, Lina Ryden, Hanna Wetterberg, Therese Rydberg Sterner, Madeleine Mellqvist Fässberg, Pia Gudmundsson, Ingmar Skoog
  BMC Geriatrics.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association between Increasing Social Capital and Decreasing Prevalence of Smoking at the Municipality Level: Repeated Cross-Sectional Study from the JAGES
  Hiroki Takeuchi, Kazushige Ide, Ryota Watanabe, Yasuhiro Miyaguni, Katsunori Kondo
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(8): 4472.     CrossRef
• Living Alone Is Not Associated With Cardiovascular Events and Hypoglycemia in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
  Zhaowei Zhu, Zhenyu Peng, Zhenhua Xing
  Frontiers in Public Health.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Living alone and all-cause mortality in community-dwelling adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Yunli Zhao, Gordon Guyatt, Ya Gao, Qiukui Hao, Ream Abdullah, John Basmaji, Farid Foroutan
  eClinicalMedicine.2022; 54: 101677.     CrossRef
• Current status of health promotion in Korea
  Soo Young Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 776.     CrossRef

Background
In 2015, tobacco prices significantly increased in Korea as part of the government’s smoking cessation policy. This study examined the changes in the stages of smoking cessation among Korean male smokers before and after the implementation of the tobacco price policy, and identified the predictors of such changes.
Methods
The study population comprised 3,533 male current smokers (age ≥19 years) who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016. Current smokers were defined as persons who had smoked ≥100 cigarettes during their lifetime and are continuing to smoke. In accordance with the transtheoretical model, smokers were classified into the precontemplation stage (no plan to quit), contemplation stage, and preparation stage (planning to quit within 6 months). We examined the changes in the smoking cessation stages before and after the implementation of the policy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors related to the likelihood of continuing smoking, after adjustments for potential confounders.
Results
Immediately after the policy implementation, the percentage of smokers in the precontemplation stage decreased from 65.6% to 60.8% (P=0.014). However, this effect was temporary. Significant risk factors for remaining in the precontemplation stage were older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.010; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.002–1.018; P=0.004), being in the lowest income quartile (OR, 1.226; 95% CI, 1.001–1.502; P=0.049), and manual worker or unemployed status (OR, 1.256; 95% CI, 1.036–1523; P=0.020).
Conclusion
Increasing tobacco prices only temporarily change the stage of smoking cessation among Korean male smokers.

Citations

• Association Between Perceived Noise Pollution and Sleep Quality: Findings from the 2018 Community Health Survey
  Sujin Lee, Jae Ho Chung
  Noise and Health.2024; 26(122): 346.     CrossRef
• Current status of tobacco use, cessation and control policy in Korea
  Cheol Min Lee
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 789.     CrossRef
• Current status of health promotion in Korea
  Soo Young Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 776.     CrossRef
• Public Health Intervention for Smoking Cessation
  Soo Young Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(5): 343.     CrossRef

Background
Tobacco smoking is the most preventable cause of diseases and death in older adults. This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with the intention to quit smoking in elderly Korean men.
Methods
We investigated 813 male smokers aged 65 years or more from the 5th and 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2015. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors related with smoking cessation intention.
Results
Of the respondents, 26.3% had the intention to quit smoking. After adjustment for confounding factors, the intention to quit smoking was significantly associated with a history of ischemic heart disease (adjusted odds ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–3.48).
Conclusion
Identifying the factors related to the intention to quit smoking among older adults can help in developing effective smoking cessation strategies for this section of the population.

Citations

• Factors Associated with Quit Intentions among Adult Smokers in South Korea: Findings from the 2020 ITC Korea Survey
  Minjung Han, Donghee Seo, Yeol Kim, Hong Gwan Seo, Sung-il Cho, Sungkyu Lee, Sujin Lim, Susan C. Kaai, Anne C. K. Quah, Mi Yan, Steve S. Xu, Geoffrey T. Fong
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(17): 10839.     CrossRef
• Factors that Predict Smoking Cessation among Older Koreans: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2018
  Han Kyul Lim, Yong Soon Park, Jeong Hyeon Kim, Jeong Hyun Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(5): 363.     CrossRef

Background
Although the number of medical institutions running a smoking cessation clinic is on the rise, there remains a paucity of research on the long- and short-term success rates of smoking cessation programs, as well as on smoking relapse rates, before and after project implementation. This study assessed the general characteristics of patients visiting the smoking cessation clinic, success rate of smoking cessation in the short term, and risks of relapse.
Methods
Medical records from March 2015 to April 2017 were analyzed and telephone surveys were conducted with 151 smokers who visited a hospital smoking cessation clinic from March 2015 to April 2017.
Results
Of the 139 smokers who were eligible for follow-up, 22 (15.8%) failed to quit smoking initially. The clinic’s 6-month success rate of smoking cessation was 64.83%. Those with higher medication compliance had a lower risk of primary failure (odds ratio, 0.056; 95% confidence interval, 0.005–0.609), whereas those with higher age (hazard ratio [HR], 0.128; P=0.0252) and a greater number of visits to the clinic (HR, 0.274; P=0.0124) had a lower risk of relapsing.
Conclusion
The risk of primary failure to quit was higher with low medication compliance, and that of relapsing was higher with lower age and fewer number of clinic visits. Various evaluation and analysis methods can be carried out in the future based on the accumulated data for maintenance of smoking cessation and relapse prevention.

Citations

• Development of a Risk Score to Predict Short-term Smoking Relapse Following an Inpatient Smoking Cessation Intervention
  Hwang Sik Shin, Yoon Hyung Park, Sung Soo Lee, Yong Jin Cho, Jun Tack Kwon, Youngs Chang, Mee-Ri Lee, Young Hwangbo
  Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health.2024; 36(4): 329.     CrossRef
• Associations between Nicotine Dependence, Smartphone Usage Patterns, and Expected Compliance with a Smoking Cessation Application among Smokers
  Oh Beom Kwon, Chihoon Jung, Auk Kim, Sang Won Park, Gihwan Byeon, Seung-Joon Lee, Woo Jin Kim
  Healthcare Informatics Research.2024; 30(3): 224.     CrossRef
• The Current Status and Challenges of National Smoking Cessation Support Program in Korea
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2019; 40(6): 351.     CrossRef

Although the prevalence of cigarette smoking has declined in Western countries over the past few decades, a comparable decline among males has not been observed in Asian countries, especially in South Korea, where approximately 40%–50% of men and 4%–8% of women have been identified as smokers, and there is a pressing need to understand the background of cigarette smoking in these populations. The present study is a narrative review of the research literature on cigarette smoking in South Korea. First, we describe the social, economic, and cultural factors that impact cigarette smoking in South Korea. The paper also reviews the available peer-reviewed literature comprising observational studies and interventional studies, including randomized controlled trials. The extant literature on smoking in Korean Americans is also reviewed. Cigarette smoking in South Korea has been relatively understudied, and this review identifies priority areas for future research, including the use of mobile interventions.

Citations

• Investigating Social Proliferation in Korean College Students’ Smoking Perceptions and Behaviors
  YoungJu Shin, Yu Lu, Rebecca Leach
  Western Journal of Communication.2025; 89(1): 46.     CrossRef
• Association of low employment quality with cigarette smoking, smoking initiation, and smoking cessation: A 16-year longitudinal study in South Korea
  Seong-Uk Baek, Yu-Min Lee, Jong-Uk Won, Jin-Ha Yoon
  Social Science & Medicine.2025; 366: 117629.     CrossRef
• Blood eosinophil count and treatment patterns of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in South Korea using real-world data
  Chin Kook Rhee, Yu-Fan Ho, Sumitra Shantakumar, Tim Holbrook, Yein Nam, Kwang‑Ha Yoo
  The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine.2025; 40(1): 78.     CrossRef
• Radiological Changes in Chest Computed Tomography Findings of School Cooks: A Comparative Study With Age-matched Controls
  Jung Hee Hong, Jin Young Kim, Kiook Baek
  Safety and Health at Work.2025; 16(2): 228.     CrossRef
• Association Between Electronic Cigarette Use and Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Population-Based Study
  Wonseok Jeong, Min Ji Song, Ji Hye Shin, Ji Hyun Kim
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(11): 3616.     CrossRef
• Smoking in North Korea: a qualitative study
  Jung Jae Lee, Seok-Hyang Kim, Jung-Hee Jeon, Miju Kim
  Tobacco Control.2025; : tc-2024-059113.     CrossRef
• Sex Differences in the Risk of Bladder Cancer among Kidney Transplant Recipients and Patients with Kidney Failure Receiving Hemodialysis: A Nationwide Cohort Study
  Hoon Yu, Sung Jin Kim, Yoonjong Bae, Mina Kim, Chan-Young Jung
  American Journal of Nephrology.2025; 56(3): 258.     CrossRef
• Low household income increases the risk of tuberculosis recurrence: a retrospective nationwide cohort study in South Korea
  C. Chung, D. Jeong, H. Sohn, H. Choi, Y.A. Kang
  Public Health.2024; 226: 228.     CrossRef
• Parent–Offspring Associations of Ideal Cardiovascular Health Metrics: Findings From the 2014 to 2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
  Manh Thang Hoang, Sun Jae Jung, Hokyou Lee, Hyeon Chang Kim
  Journal of the American Heart Association.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Forecasting the future prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in Korea through 2048: an epidemiologic study employing autoregressive integrated moving average models
  Ji Eun Kim, Shin Ju Oh, Chang Kyun Lee
  Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.2024; 39(5): 836.     CrossRef
• Cancer Risk Following Smoking Cessation in Korea
  Eunjung Park, Hee-Yeon Kang, Min Kyung Lim, Byungmi Kim, Jin-Kyoung Oh
  JAMA Network Open.2024; 7(2): e2354958.     CrossRef
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Background
The definition of sarcopenia focuses on muscle mass and function. Sarcopenic obesity is the relative excess of fat tissue with decreased muscle mass. We examined the association between cigarette smoking and sarcopenia according to obesity in middle-aged and elderly Koreans.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 9,385 subjects (age ≥50 years) based on data from the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2008–2011). Smoking groups were categorized by smoking status and the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Sarcopenia was defined as weight-adjusted appendicular skeletal muscle mass of 2 standard deviations below the sex-specific mean for young adults. Obesity was defined as fat mass ≥30% for men and ≥40% for women. Subjects were categorized into three groups: sarcopenic obese (SO), sarcopenic non-obese (SNO), and normal. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between smoking and SNO and SO.
Results
Among men, current smokers were more associated with SNO than never-smokers (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–10.26). However, there was no significant association between smoking status and SNO in women or SO in either sex. Among current smokers, moderate smokers (11–20 cigarettes/d) were more likely to be SNO (adjusted OR, 5.81; 95% CI, 1.12–30.31) and heavy smokers (>20 cigarettes/d) were more likely to be SO (adjusted OR, 9.53; 95% CI, 1.65–55.01) than light smokers (<11 cigarettes/d).
Conclusion
In men, smoking was positively associated with SNO, and heavy smokers were more likely to be SO than light smokers.

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  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2019; 40(2): 61.     CrossRef
• Breastfeeding and Sarcopenia in Later Life
  Jungun Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2019; 40(3): 133.     CrossRef

Background
Cadmium is a toxic element in cigarette smoke associated with ischemic vascular disease. Its association with cerebral aneurysm is unknown.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with headache who underwent imaging studies between March 2014 and August 2016. An unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) was confirmed by brain magnetic resonance angiography or computed tomography angiography. A control group included age- and sexmatched patients without an UIA. Whole blood and random urine tests were used for detection of cadmium and arsenic levels, respectively. Student t-test was used to compare subject characteristics, mean cadmium and arsenic levels between groups, and differences between groups with small (<4-mm) and large (≥4-mm) UIAs. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for aneurysm incidence.
Results
Of 238 patients, 25 had an UIA. Those with an UIA had more pack-years of smoking (19.5±3.8 vs. 12.5±6.8, P=0.044) and higher mean serum cadmium levels (1.77±0.19 vs. 0.87±0.21 µg/L, P=0.027). Arsenic levels showed no difference between groups. (67.4±23.5 vs. 62.2±18.3 µg/L, P=0.458). There were no significantly different demographic, clinical, or laboratory characteristics between small and large aneurysm groups. According to multivariate analysis, smoking (odds ratio [OR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–2.33; P=0.047) and serum cadmium >2.0 mcg/L (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.15–1.84; P=0.043) were associated with aneurysm incidence.
Conclusion
UIA incidence was associated with pack-years of smoking and serum cadmium level, but aneurysm size was not associated with serum cadmium level.

Citations

• Impact of lifetime and current smoking exposure on the rupture status, number, and size of intracranial aneurysms
  Ramazan Jabbarli, Marvin Darkwah Oppong, Meltem Gümüs, Mehdi Chihi, Thiemo Florin Dinger, Laurèl Rauschenbach, Yahya Ahmadipour, Philipp Dammann, Yan Li, Nika Guberina, Karsten H. Wrede, Ulrich Sure
  Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery.2025; 254: 108924.     CrossRef
• Cigarette Smoking and Observed Growth of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis
  Maria José Pachón-Londoño, Maged T. Ghoche, Brandon A. Nguyen, Seyed Farzad Maroufi, Vita Olson, Devi P. Patra, Evelyn L. Turcotte, Zhen Wang, Brooke S. Halpin, Chandan Krishna, Ali Turkmani, Fredric B. Meyer, Bernard R. Bendok
  Stroke.2024; 55(10): 2420.     CrossRef
• Hemodynamic Analysis of Pipeline Embolization Device Stent for Treatment of Giant Intracranial Aneurysm under Unsupervised Learning Algorithm
  Haibin Gao, Wei You, Jian Lv, Youxiang Li, Le Sun
  Journal of Healthcare Engineering.2022; 2022: 1.     CrossRef
• Urinary cadmium and stroke - a case-cohort study in Danish never-smokers
  Aslak Harbo Poulsen, Clara G. Sears, James Harrington, Chanelle J. Howe, Katherine A. James, Nina Roswall, Kim Overvad, Anne Tjønneland, Gregory A. Wellenius, Jaymie Meliker, Ole Raaschou-Nielsen
  Environmental Research.2021; 200: 111394.     CrossRef
• Blood cadmium concentration and risk of subarachnoid haemorrhage
  Martin Söderholm, Yan Borné, Bo Hedblad, Margaretha Persson, Lars Barregard, Gunnar Engström
  Environmental Research.2020; 180: 108826.     CrossRef
• Chemical Composition and Microbial Contaminants of Poha Beer: A Local Nonalcoholic Beverage in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Ghana
  Julius T. Dongdem, James Abugri, Clement A. Asakedola, Todd R. Callaway
  International Journal of Microbiology.2020; 2020: 1.     CrossRef

Background
Electronic cigarette (EC) consumption (‘vaping’) is rapidly increasing, not only in adults but also in adolescents. Little is known about the association between vaping and problem behaviors such as drinking.
Methods
We used data from the 11th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which was conducted in 2015 and included 68,043 participants who were Korean middle and high school students. The survey assessed EC, cigarette, and alcohol use. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine risk of current drinking and problem drinking across the following categories of users: never user (never used either product), former user (use of EC or cigarettes in the past, but not currently), vaping only, smoking only, and dual user (current use of both products).
Results
EC only users were 1.2% in males, and 0.3% in females. Dual user of both conventional cigarettes and ECs were 5.1% in males, and 1.2% in females. Drinking frequency, drinking quantity per once, and problem drinking were higher among vapers than non-vapers and former-vapers, moreover, were higher among daily vapers than intermittent vapers. Compared to never users, EC only users were higher on risk of current drink and problem drink. The dual users were highest on risk of current drink.
Conclusion
Vaping is independently associated with alcohol use problems in Korean students, even those not currently smoking. Moreover, dual use of cigarettes and ECs is strongly associated with alcohol use problems. Therefore, vaping students should be concerned about their hidden alcohol use problems.

Citations

• Changes in health behaviors and obesity of Korean adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a special report using the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey
  Chang-Mo Oh, Yangha Kim, Jieun Yang, Sunhye Choi, Kyungwon Oh
  Epidemiology and Health.2023; 45: e2023018.     CrossRef
• Addiction-Related Outcomes of Nicotine and Alcohol Co-use: New Insights Following the Rise in Vaping
  Jude A Frie, Caitlin J Nolan, Jennifer E Murray, Jibran Y Khokhar
  Nicotine & Tobacco Research.2022; 24(8): 1141.     CrossRef
• Vaping
  Chelsey DeGomez, Jennifer Feirstein
  JAAPA.2022; 35(9): 25.     CrossRef
• Comparison of Tobacco Use and Cessation Behavior between Conventional Cigarette and Heated Tobacco Product Users: Based on the Analyses of the Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019
  Hyeree Yu, Cheol Min Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2022; 43(5): 296.     CrossRef
• Prevalence of Vaping and Behavioral Associations of Vaping Among a Community of College Students in the United States
  Ogbebor E. Omoike, Kiana R. Johnson
  Journal of Community Health.2021; 46(1): 190.     CrossRef
• Use of Single, Dual, and Poly Tobacco Products in Korean Adolescents
  Min Kwon, Sophia J. Chung, Jinhwa Lee
  Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health.2021; 33(5): 571.     CrossRef
• Association between preference for using alcohol beverage-named e-liquids and alcohol use among high school youth
  Asti Jackson, Ran Wu, Grace Kong, Deepa R. Camenga, Meghan Morean, Patricia Simon, Krysten W. Bold, Angela M. Haeny, Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin
  Drug and Alcohol Dependence.2020; 209: 107903.     CrossRef
• Cross-fading: The importance of tissue injury research on dual misuse of alcohol and JUUL
  Lisa Chudomelka, Todd A. Wyatt
  Alcohol.2020; 86: 43.     CrossRef
• Association of E-cigarettes with adolescent alcohol use and binge drinking-drunkenness: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Ava N. Rothrock, Halle Andris, Sarah B. Swetland, Valeria Chavez, Shira Isaak, Maria Pagane, Jake Romney, Steven G. Rothrock
  The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.2020; 46(6): 684.     CrossRef
• Prevalence and Correlates of the Dual Use of Conventional and Electronic Cigarettes among Korean Adolescents: 2016-2018 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Survey
  Eon Sook Lee, Yu Jin Paek
  Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2020; 11(2): 64.     CrossRef
• Electronic and Conventional Cigarette Use and Drinking Behaviors in Korean Adolescents
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2019; 40(4): 201.     CrossRef

Background
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which often develops as vascular calcification on radiologic examinations. This study evaluated the relationship between smoking-related factors and incidental abdominal aorta calcification (AAC) detected by computed tomography (CT) among middle-aged and elderly men.
Methods
We assessed the abdominal CT findings of 218 men aged 40 to 81 years who underwent health checkups. The associations between smoking factors and AAC were analyzed using logistic regression analysis to adjust for confounding variables such as age, lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases.
Results
Adjusting for confounding variables, the risk of AAC was significantly increased in association with smoking for at least 20 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82–14.93), smoking 10+ pack-years (10–20 pack-years: AOR, 4.54; 95% CI, 1.07–5.68; >20 pack-years: AOR, 5.28; 95% CI, 2.10–13.31), and a history of smoking (former smoker: AOR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.07–5.68; current smoker: AOR, 5.05; 95% CI, 2.08–12.26). In terms of the daily smoking amount, even a low smoking level increased the risk of AAC.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that smoking for 20+ years, smoking 10+ pack-years, and even a low level of smoking daily increases the likelihood of developing AAC. Clinicians should recommend that patients quit smoking and stress the importance of smoking duration when promoting health in middle-aged and elderly patients.

Citations

• Association of Smoking and Alcohol with Abdominal Aortic Calcification in the General Middle-Aged and Elderly Populations
  Yinze Ji, Naqiang Lv, Aimin Dang
  Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Vascular calcification in kidney stone formers: the impact of age and stone composition
  Alon Bnaya, Ilan Z Kafka, Hezi Barhoum, Linda Shavit
  Urolithiasis.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association of Life's Essential 8 with abdominal aortic calcification and mortality among middle‐aged and older individuals
  Gehui Ni, Qinfeng Jia, Ying Li, Iokfai Cheang, Xu Zhu, Haifeng Zhang, Xinli Li
  Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.2024; 26(11): 5126.     CrossRef
• Can smoking cause impotence? a radiological retrospective cohort study comparing internal pudendal artery calcification on CT in male smokers versus non-smokers
  Emma Tong, Caoimhe McDonnell, Kate Hunter, Kevin Sheahan, William C. Torreggiani
  Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -).2023; 192(1): 377.     CrossRef
• Imaging Early Life Cardiovascular Phenotype
  Vinithra Varadarajan, Samuel S. Gidding, Colin Wu, J. Jeffrey Carr, Joao A.C. Lima
  Circulation Research.2023; 132(12): 1607.     CrossRef
• Nicotine promotes vascular calcification via intracellular Ca2+-mediated, Nox5-induced oxidative stress, and extracellular vesicle release in vascular smooth muscle cells
  Ploingarm Petsophonsakul, Mathias Burgmaier, Brecht Willems, Sylvia Heeneman, Nadina Stadler, Felix Gremse, Sebastian Reith, Kathrin Burgmaier, Florian Kahles, Nikolaus Marx, Ehsan Natour, Elham Bidar, Michael Jacobs, Barend Mees, Chris Reutelingsperger,
  Cardiovascular Research.2022; 118(9): 2196.     CrossRef
• Calcified Abdominal aortic occlusion: Treatment using Intravascular Lithotripsy
  Pratik Shah, Vimal Someshwar, Krishna Mundada, Abhijit Raut
  Journal of Clinical Interventional Radiology ISVIR.2022; 06(02): 141.     CrossRef
• Relationship between blood cadmium and abdominal aortic calcification: NHANES 2013–2014
  Nuozhou Liu, Ying Feng, Yuejuan Zhan, Fang Ma
  Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology.2022; 72: 126975.     CrossRef
• Prevalence and Predictors of Abdominal Aorta Calcification in Patients With Psoriasis—A Case Control Study
  Sofia Ramos, Sheetal Daya, Nigel J. Crowther, Lushen Pillay, Mohammed Tikly, Nasrin Goolam Mahyoodeen
  Frontiers in Medicine.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Association between body mass index and fragility fracture in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study using Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2009 (KNHANES IV)
  Jihan Kim, Sami Lee, Sung Soo Kim, Jong-Pyo Lee, Jong Sung Kim, Jin Gyu Jung, Seok Jun Yoon, Kyu Pil Kim, Chan-Keol Park, Yong-Hwan Kim
  BMC Women's Health.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Modified effect of active or passive smoking on the association between age and abdominal aortic calcification: a nationally representative cross-sectional study
  Luyan Lv, Shixian Wu, Yungui Yang, Xiongli Yue
  BMJ Open.2021; 11(10): e047645.     CrossRef
• Association Between Serum Cotinine and Severe Abdominal Aortic Calcification in US Adults
  Xiaoxiao Wen, Yanjie Xia, Min Guo, Liancheng Zhao, Long Zhou
  Angiology.2020; 71(4): 333.     CrossRef
• Role of Advanced Glycation End Products on Aortic Calcification in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
  Pilar Sanchis, Rosmeri Rivera, Regina Fortuny, Carlos Río, Miguel Mas-Gelabert, Marta Gonzalez-Freire, Felix Grases, Luis Masmiquel
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2020; 9(6): 1751.     CrossRef

Background
To aim of this study was to examine the association between perceived possibility of purchasing cigarettes and e-cigarette experience among adolescents who currently smoke cigarettes.
Methods
Data were derived from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey; a total of 29,169 current smokers participated. The dependent variable was e-cigarette experience in the previous month. Analyses included χ² test and survey logistic regression.
Results
A perceived easy possibility of purchasing cigarettes increased the odds of e-cigarette experience (odds ratio, 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.33) compared to when it was perceived as impossible. An easy possibility of purchasing cigarettes increased the odds of e-cigarettes experience among males aged 12–15 or 17 years compared to when it was impossible to purchase cigarettes.
Conclusion
A perceived easy possibility of purchasing cigarettes was more likely to increase e-cigarette experience among adolescents. Laws restricting adolescents’ access to e-cigarettes must be strengthened.

Citations

• Vaping—An Emerging Threat to Youngsters of Pakistan
  Nazish Jaffar, Hafiza Tooba Siddiqui, Huda Amin, Md Ariful Haque
  Addiction Biology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Underage E-Cigarette Purchasing and Vaping Progression Among Young Adults
  Alyssa F. Harlow, Rob S. McConnell, Jessica L. Barrington-Trimis
  Journal of Adolescent Health.2023; 72(2): 260.     CrossRef
• The Impact of Heated Tobacco Products on Smoking Cessation, Tobacco Use, and Tobacco Sales in South Korea
  Cheol Min Lee
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2020; 41(5): 273.     CrossRef