Prevalence of current large cigar versus little cigar/cigarillo smoking among U.S. adults, 2018-2019

Abstract

Cigar smoking is increasing among non-Hispanic Black adults in the U.S. However, the prevalence of large and little cigar/cigarillo (LCC) smoking varying jointly by age and race/ethnicity has not been reported. We analyzed data from the 2018-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (n = 134,900) to fill this knowledge gap. Participants reported the type of cigar they used most often in the past 30 days (either large cigars, little cigars, or cigarillos). We estimated the prevalence of current large cigar and LCC smoking by sociodemographic characteristics. We then examined sociodemographic correlates of large cigar and LCC smoking in comparison to non-cigar smoking using a multivariable multinomial logistic regression model, and sociodemographic correlates of LCC smoking compared to large cigar smoking using a multivariable logistic regression model. Age*race/ethnicity interaction on cigar smoking was tested. Age-stratified multivariable multinomial logistic regression and logistic regression models were used to examine associations between race/ethnicity and large cigar and LCC smoking by age, adjusting for other sociodemographic variables. Overall, 1.1% and 0.8% of U.S. adults currently smoked large cigars and LCCs, with younger adults more likely to smoke both types of cigars and non-Hispanic Black adults more likely than non-Hispanic White adults to smoke LCCs. Prevalence of currently smoking LCCs varied greatly by age and race/ethnicity, with the highest prevalence of current LCC smoking being among 18-30 year-old non-Hispanic Black adults. Cigar smoking prevention and cessation efforts should prioritize non-Hispanic Black young adults who are most at risk for cigar smoking health effects.

Keywords: Cigar smoking; Cigarillos; Large cigars; Little cigars; Tobacco.