Sarah D Mills1,2, Yajing Hao3, Kurt M Ribisl1,2, Christopher A Wiesen4, Kristen Hassmiller Lich5. 1. Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. 2. Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. 3. Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. 4. Odum Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. 5. Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Some, but not all, studies suggest that menthol cigarette smokers have more difficulty quitting than non-menthol cigarette smokers. Inconsistent findings may be a result of differences in smoker characteristics (eg, daily vs. non-daily smokers) across studies. This study examines the relationship between menthol cigarette use, cessation, and relapse in a longitudinal, nationally representative study of tobacco use in the United States. AIMS AND METHODS: Data come from four waves of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Waves 1-4 were conducted approximately annually from September 2013 to January 2018. Generalized estimating equation models were used to prospectively examine the relationship between menthol cigarette use, cessation, and relapse in non-daily and daily adult (18+) smokers. Cessation was defined as smokers who had not used cigarettes within the past 30 days at their subsequent assessment. Relapse was defined as cessation followed by past 30-day smoking in the next assessment. RESULTS: Among daily smokers (n = 13 710), 4.0% and 5.3% of menthol and non-menthol smokers quit after 1 year, respectively. In an adjusted model, menthol smokers were less likely to quit compared with non-menthol smokers (odds ratio [OR] = 0.76 [0.63, 0.91]). When the sample was stratified by race/ethnicity, African American (OR = 0.47 [0.24, 0.91]) and White (OR = 0.78 [0.63, 0.97]) daily menthol users were less likely to have quit. Among non-daily smokers (n = 3608), there were no significant differences in quit rates. Among daily and non-daily former smokers, there were also no differences in relapse rates between menthol and non-menthol smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Menthol cigarette use is associated with lower odds of cessation. IMPLICATIONS: Findings from this study suggest that menthol cigarette use is associated with lower odds of cessation, but not relapse. Removing menthol cigarettes from the market may improve cessation rates.
INTRODUCTION: Some, but not all, studies suggest that menthol cigarette smokers have more difficulty quitting than non-menthol cigarette smokers. Inconsistent findings may be a result of differences in smoker characteristics (eg, daily vs. non-daily smokers) across studies. This study examines the relationship between menthol cigarette use, cessation, and relapse in a longitudinal, nationally representative study of tobacco use in the United States. AIMS AND METHODS: Data come from four waves of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Waves 1-4 were conducted approximately annually from September 2013 to January 2018. Generalized estimating equation models were used to prospectively examine the relationship between menthol cigarette use, cessation, and relapse in non-daily and daily adult (18+) smokers. Cessation was defined as smokers who had not used cigarettes within the past 30 days at their subsequent assessment. Relapse was defined as cessation followed by past 30-day smoking in the next assessment. RESULTS: Among daily smokers (n = 13 710), 4.0% and 5.3% of menthol and non-menthol smokers quit after 1 year, respectively. In an adjusted model, menthol smokers were less likely to quit compared with non-menthol smokers (odds ratio [OR] = 0.76 [0.63, 0.91]). When the sample was stratified by race/ethnicity, African American (OR = 0.47 [0.24, 0.91]) and White (OR = 0.78 [0.63, 0.97]) daily menthol users were less likely to have quit. Among non-daily smokers (n = 3608), there were no significant differences in quit rates. Among daily and non-daily former smokers, there were also no differences in relapse rates between menthol and non-menthol smokers. CONCLUSIONS:Menthol cigarette use is associated with lower odds of cessation. IMPLICATIONS: Findings from this study suggest that menthol cigarette use is associated with lower odds of cessation, but not relapse. Removing menthol cigarettes from the market may improve cessation rates.
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