<p>Trends in prevalence and patterns of use of a heated tobacco product (<i>IQOS</i>™) in Japan: A three-year repeated cross-sectional study [version 1; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]</p> Peer-Reviewed Publications peerreviewedpublications Post-Market Studies and Surveillance Studypostmarketstudiesandsurveillancestudy THSTHS Jun 30, 2022 20220630 F1000Research /content/dam/pmiscience/default-fallback-thumbnails/publication/GB-27-09-21--E3612_3840x2160.jpg F1000Research
      Peer-Reviewed Publications

      Trends in prevalence and patterns of use of a heated tobacco product (IQOS™) in Japan: A three-year repeated cross-sectional study [version 1; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]

      Fischer, K.; Bajec, M.; Mainy, N.; AlMoosawi, S.; Sieverding, M.; Zwisele, B.; Camille, N.; Magnani, P.; Roulet, S.

      Published
      Jun 30, 2022
      DOI
      10.12688/f1000research.122491.1
      Link to publication
      Topic
      Summary

      Background: Numerous smoke-free tobacco or nicotine-containing product (TNP) alternatives have been introduced to support individual- and population-level harm reduction relative to continued cigarette smoking. This article details the nationwide prevalence and patterns of TNP use between 2016 and 2019 in Japan following the commercialization of IQOS™, a smoke-free heated tobacco product (HTP).

      Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted over a period of three study years (2016/2017, 2017/2018, and 2018/2019) in representative samples of the Japanese general adult population and samples of Japanese adult IQOS users registered in the IQOS owner database of Philip Morris International’s affiliate in Japan.

      Results: Across the three study years (Y1-Y3), the prevalence of overall current TNP use (Y1-Y3: 18.5%, 18.9%, and 18.2%) and overall TNP use by age and sex remained similar. However, there was a growing shift from cigarette smoking to smoke-free TNP use across the three study years. While the cigarette smoking prevalence (Y1-Y3: 17.6%, 17.3%, and 16.0%) decreased, the use prevalence of smoke-free TNPs, including the HTP IQOS (Y1-Y3: 1.8%, 3.2%, and 3.3%) and e-cigarettes (Y1-Y3, 0.7%, 1.6%, and 2.0%) increased. At the same time, TNP initiation, TNP relapse, and TNP reinitiation with IQOS were all very low across the three study years. Across Y1-Y3, exclusive use of only one type of TNP (Y1-Y3: 82.3%, 75.0%, and 70.4%) decreased, while dual use of two types of TNPs (Y1-Y3: 14.3%, 17.2%, and 16.7%) increased, and poly-TNP use (Y1-Y3: 2.1%, 6.1%, and 10.0%) increased markedly. Moreover, the majority of adult IQOS users were exclusive IQOS users.

      Conclusions: These findings suggest that current IQOS use behavior trends are in line with the principles of tobacco harm reduction and that HTPs are effective tools for complementing current tobacco control measures.

      Related Publications

      Estimated public health gains from smokers in Germany switching to reduced-risk alternatives: Results from population health impact modelling by socioeconomic group

      Post-Market Studies and Surveillance Study

      Estimated public health gains from German smokers switching to reduced-risk alternatives: Results from population health impact modelling

      Post-Market Studies and Surveillance Study

      <p>Trends in prevalence and patterns of use of a heated tobacco product (<i>IQOS</i>™) in Japan: A three-year repeated cross-sectional study [version 1; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]</p>

      Post-Market Studies and Surveillance Study

      Prevalence and patterns of tobacco and/or nicotine product use in Japan (2017) after the launch of a heated tobacco product (IQOS®): a cross-sectional study

      Post-Market Studies and Surveillance Study

      Trends in hospitalization due to COPD and IHD before and after the introduction of HTPs in Japan

      Post-Market Studies and Surveillance Study

      Insights on the impact of the introduction of heated tobacco products in Japan on sales of cigarettes and the smoking prevalence

      Post-Market Studies and Surveillance Study

      PMIScience.com is operated by Philip Morris International for the purpose of publishing and disseminating scientific information about Philip Morris International’s efforts to develop and assess products that have the potential to reduce individual risk and population harm associated with tobacco use. This site is for use by scientists, the public health and regulatory communities, and other stakeholders with an interest in tobacco policy. The purpose of this site is not for advertising or marketing. It is not intended for use by consumers.

      Reduced Risk Products ("RRPs”) is the term we use to refer to products that present, are likely to present, or have the potential to present less risk of harm to smokers who switch to these products versus continuing smoking. PMI has a range of RRPs in various stages of development, scientific assessment and commercialization. Our RRPs are smoke-free products that produce an aerosol that contains far lower quantities of harmful and potentially harmful constituents than found in cigarette smoke.