Prevalence of electronic cigarette use and characteristics of users aged 18-64 in the Republic of Serbia

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are the most common prototype of electronic devices that generate an aerosol from a liquid and most often contain nicotine. In addition to nicotine, e-liquids often contain flavorings dissolved in propylene glycol and/or glycerin and other toxic and potentially carcinogenic substances. Despite the fact that these products do not contain tobacco, there are concerns about the harmful effects of nicotine and the addiction it causes, as well as the fact that data are missing about the consequences of their long-term use. The popularity of e-cigarette use is growing globally, especially among young people. The aim of the study was to examine the frequency of e-cigarette use among the adult population aged 18-64 in the Republic of Serbia, as well as the socio-demographic characteristics of e-cigarette users, in order to create adequate measures and policies in response to new challenges in the field of tobacco use control. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study conducted in December 2023 using a specially designed questionnaire on a nationally representative sample of 1,598 adult residents of the Republic of Serbia aged 18-64. 18.4% of the population have tried electronic cigarettes at some point in their lives, while 1.9% currently use them daily or occasionally, with no statistically significant difference between genders. A statistically significant difference was observed in the frequency of e-cigarette use by age, region and occupation, while there was no difference by education, self-assessed financial status and type of settlement. Younger adults (aged 18-34) had a higher prevalence of e-cigarette use at some point in life, as did residents of Vojvodina. The lowest frequency of e-cigarette use, with a statistically significant difference, is present among the retired and the unemployed. The results indicate the need for prevention of e-cigarette use, which should be particularly targeted at younger population groups, strengthening legislation and further monitoring of e-cigarette use through national research.