Th Lam

Electronic Cigarette Use and Respiratory Symptoms in Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong

2. Montgomery KS. Apgar scores: examining the long-term significance. J Perinat Educ. 2000;9(3):5-9. 3. Iliodromiti S, Mackay DF, Smith GC, Pell JP, Nelson SM. Apgar score and the risk of cause-specific infant mortality: a population-based cohort study. Lancet. 2014;384(9956):1749-1755. 4. Ray JG, Urquia ML, Berger H, Vermeulen MJ. Maternal and neonatal separation and mortality associated with concurrent admissions to intensive care units. CMAJ. 2012;184(18): E956-E962. 5. Bateman BT, Mhyre JM, Hernandez-Diaz S, et al. Development of a comorbidity index for use in obstetric patients. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122(5): 957-965. Electronic Cigarette Use and Respiratory Symptoms in Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are increasingly used, but their health effects remain unclear. The primary ingredients of e-cigarette liquid, propylene glycol and flavoring chemicals (eg, diacetyl or diketone), are respiratory irritants and harmful to the lungs.1 Well-documented respiratory toxicants, such as particulate matters, volatile organic compounds, and metals, were found in e-cigarette aerosol, although in lower concentrations than conventional cigarettes.2 Figure. Relative Risk for Postpartum Maternal Admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Associated With the Newborn’s 5-Minute Apgar Score

Electronic cigarette use and its association with smoking in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents

BACKGROUNDnElectronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are increasingly used in adolescents with unknown impacts on conventional cigarette smoking. We examined the associations of e-cigarette use with smoking intention, nicotine addiction and smoking cessation in Chinese adolescents.nnnMETHODSnA total of 45,128 students (age 14.6 ± 1.9; boys 51.4%) from 75 randomly selected schools in Hong Kong reported e-cigarette use (in the past 30 days), conventional cigarette use and socio-demographic characteristics in an anonymous questionnaire survey. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of intention to smoke, morning smoking urge, intention to quit and quit attempts; and beta-coefficient (β) of cigarette consumption per day were calculated in relation to e-cigarette use.nnnRESULTSnE-cigarette use was associated with intention to smoke with an AOR (95% CI) of 1.74 (1.30-2.31) in all students, 2.18 (1.12-4.23) in never and 2.79 (2.05-3.79) in ever smokers (non-significant interaction by smoking status). The associations were also significant in experimental and former smokers but not in current smokers. In current smokers, e-cigarette use was significantly associated with heavier smoking (β 2.54, 95% CI 1.28-3.81) and morning smoking urge (AOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.50-3.11), and non-significantly associated with lower quit intention (0.76, 0.52-1.09) and attempts (0.80, 0.56-1.23).nnnCONCLUSIONSnE-cigarette use was associated with smoking intention in never, experimental and former smokers in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. In current smokers, e-cigarette use was associated with nicotine addiction but not quit intention and attempts. Prospective studies with detailed measurements on e-cigarette use are warranted for further studies.

Electronic cigarette use among adolescents: a cross-sectional study in Hong Kong

BackgroundLittle is known about electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among Chinese adolescents. We examined the prevalence of current (past 30-day) e-cigarette use and its associated factors in a large sample of adolescents in Hong Kong.MethodsWe analyzed data of the School-based Survey on Smoking among Students 2012/13 from a representative sample of 45,857 secondary school students (mean age: 14.8u2009±u20091.9). We conducted chi-square tests and t-test to compare current e-cigarette use by covariates. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between current e-cigarette use and demographic variables, parental smoking, peer smoking, knowledge about the harm of cigarette smoking, attitudes toward cigarette smoking, cigarette smoking status, use of other tobacco products, and alcohol consumption.ResultsOverall, 1.1xa0% of students reported current e-cigarette use. Of e-cigarette users, 11.7xa0% were never-cigarette smokers, 15.8xa0% were experimental cigarette smokers, 39.3xa0% were former cigarette smokers, and 33.2xa0% were current cigarette smokers. Current e-cigarette use was associated with male sex, poor knowledge about the harm of smoking, cigarette smoking, use of other tobacco products, and alcohol consumption.ConclusionsSurveillance and intervention efforts should address a wide range of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Tobacco cessation programs should also address alcohol use collectively. Policies prohibiting e-cigarette sales to minors may help prevent e-cigarette uptakexa0among adolescents.

Associations of unhappiness with sociodemographic factors and unhealthy behaviours in Chinese adolescents

BackgroundnEvidence on the effects of lack of physical exercise, alcohol drinking and smoking on happiness is limited and inconsistent. We examined the associations of unhappiness with sociodemographic factors and these unhealthy behaviours in Chinese adolescents. In a school-based survey in 2012-13 in Hong Kong, 45 857 secondary school students (mean age 14.8 years, 54.0% boys) reported their happiness level (not happy at all/not very happy/happy/very happy), frequency of physical exercise, alcohol drinking status, smoking status and sociodemographic factors. A main and a sensitivity analysis examined the associations of unhappiness with the study factors, treating unhappiness as a binary (combining not happy at all and not very happy) and a four-level ordered variable, respectively. The main and the sensitivity analysis both showed that unhappiness was associated with older age, very poor families, non-intact families, more co-residing smokers, lack of physical exercise and alcohol drinking; current smokers were unhappier than never and ex-smokers; unhappiness also increased significantly with the number of unhealthy behaviours ( P for trend < 0.001). In Chinese adolescents, unhappiness levels were higher in those who had a very poor family, a non-intact family and more co-residing smokers, and in those who were physically inactive, drank alcohol and smoked.

Associations of perceived interparental relationship, family harmony and family happiness with smoking intention in never-smoking Chinese children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Objective To examine the associations of perceived interparental relationship, family harmony and family happiness with smoking intention in never-smoking Chinese children and adolescents in Hong Kong. Design, settings and participants Cross-sectional surveys of 15 753 primary (grades 4–6) and 38 398 secondary (grades 7–12) never-smoking students from 71 to 75 randomly selected primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, 2012–2013. Measurements Outcome variable was smoking intention which denoted any affirmative response to smoke within the coming year or when a cigarette was offered by a good friend. Exposure variables were perceived interparental relationship and family harmony each measured on a five-point scale from ‘very good’ to ‘very bad’ and perceived family happiness on a four-point scale from ‘very happy’ to ‘not happy at all’. Potential confounders included age, sex, family structure, perceived family affluence, parental smoking and sibling smoking. Results In primary students, the adjusted ORs (AORs) (95% CI) of smoking intention generally increased with more negative perception of the family relationship: up to 3.67 (1.91 to 7.05) for interparental relationship, 7.71 (4.38 to 13.6) for family harmony and 5.40 (3.41 to 8.55) for family happiness. For secondary students, the corresponding AORs (95% CI) were 2.15 (1.64 to 2.82) for interparental relationship, 2.98 (2.31 to 3.84) for family harmony and 2.61 (1.80 to 3.79) for family happiness. All p for trend <0.001. Conclusions More negatively perceived interparental relationship, family harmony and family happiness were associated with higher odds of smoking intention with dose–response relationships in never-smoking Chinese children and adolescents in Hong Kong. Children’s perception of their family relationship may be an important intervening point for preventing youth from initiating smoking.

Exclusive and concurrent use of cigarettes and alternative tobacco products among Hong Kong adolescents

INTRODUCTION The use of alternative tobacco products (ATPs) is becoming increasingly popular among the youth. This study aimed to assess cigarette-only smoking, exclusive ATP use, and concurrent use (cigarettes and ATPs) among adolescents in Hong Kong. METHODS We analyzed data of the Hong Kong School-based Survey on Smoking among Students 2012/13 from a representative sample of 45 857 secondary school students. Weighted prevalence of cigarette-only smoking, exclusive ATP use, and concurrent tobacco use were calculated. Multinomial logistic regression examined correlates of exclusive ATP use and concurrent use relative to cigarette-only smoking. Among current (past-30-days) cigarette smokers, multivariable logistic regression assessed whether ATP use was associated with nicotine dependence, quit intention and quit attempt. RESULTS Overall, 5.8% of adolescents reported current tobacco use (2.1% cigarette-only smoking, 2.5% exclusive ATP use and 1.2% concurrent use). Compared with cigarette-only smoking, exclusive ATP use and concurrent tobacco use were associated with younger age, higher perceived family financial status, absence of cigarette smoking peers, poor knowledge about smoking and more frequent alcohol use. Among current cigarette smokers, ATP use was negatively associated with cigarette quit intention and quit attempt. CONCLUSIONS ATP use was as prevalent as cigarette smoking among adolescents, and ATP users were different from cigarette smokers in many demographic and psychosocial factors. Tobacco control programs among youth should target different types of tobacco users and address all forms of tobacco products.

Exposure to electronic cigarette advertising and intention to use electronic cigarettes in Hong Kong adolescents

3.3. Mind the gaps: loopholes in the Ban on Sponsorships, Advertising and Promotions (EP-209-3)