Prevalence of vaping, vaping-associated short-term symptoms of respiratory and cardiovascular morbidities, and factors associated with the initiation of vaping among young adults in Kuwait.

Introduction: E-cigarette use or vaping is a public health concern, especially among young adults worldwide. This cross-sectional study aimed to: 1) assess the prevalence of vaping among young adults; 2) assess the prevalence of short-term vaping-associated respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms; and 3) identify factors associated with vaping status among a student population in Kuwait.

Methods: In October 2024, a cross-sectional study enrolled students, aged ≥18 years, from various colleges of Kuwait University. Data were collected using a structured e-questionnaire administered through in-person invitations and online platforms. The prevalence (%) of vaping was computed. A multivariable log-binomial regression model was used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the factors significantly associated with vaping status. All the statistical tests were two-tailed.

Results: Of 1144 participants, most were females (78.5%), Kuwaiti (85.5%), and aged 18-21 years (70.6%). The prevalence of vaping in our sample was 15.5% (177/1144). After adjusting for the effects of age and monthly family income (in KWD), the factors that were significantly (p<0.05) and independently associated with vaping status were male gender (APR=4.52; 95% CI: 3.28-6.22), being a student at a literary college (APR=1.50; 95% CI: 1.12-2.02), a positive belief that 'vaping is less harmful than cigarette smoking' (APR=1.46; 95% CI: 1.06-2.01), and a 'disbelief that vaping leads to cigarette smoking' (APR=1.80; 95% CI: 1.32-2.45), and 'perception about easy accessibility of vaping products' (APR=3.27; 95% CI: 1.04-10.32).

Conclusions: A moderately high prevalence (15.5%) of vaping in the study sample was recorded. Male gender and some misplaced beliefs and perceptions were significantly associated with vaping status in the study sample. The high prevalences of respiratory symptoms among the participants call for targeted interventions. If instituted, future studies may evaluate the impact of such efforts.