E-cigarette use in Brazil—prevalence and associated factors in a national cross-sectional study of 16,093 adults: a short communication
Keywords:
Nicotine, Public health, Epidemiologic surveillance services, Electronic cigarette use, Prevalence, BrazilAbstract
BACKGROUND: Monitoring tobacco consumption is important for supporting national and global agendas and commitments.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence and sociodemographic and geographic factors associated with e-cigarette use in Brazil, using data from Vigitel 2023.
DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using secondary data from Vigitel 2023.
METHODS: Sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, education, and ethnicity), geographic location, and e-cigarette use were analyzed. Descriptive analyses were performed using Chi-squared and Mann–Whitney U-tests. Additionally, weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine independent associations between sociodemographic factors and current e-cigarette use. Post-stratification weights were applied, and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated.
RESULTS: Among 16,093 adults, the prevalence of current e-cigarette use was 5.55%. In the adjusted model, younger age was strongly associated with use (aOR per year increase = 0.93; 95% CI 0.92–0.94; p < 1). Men had higher odds of use than women (aOR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.12–1.6; p 1). Educational level was not independently associated with usage. Caucasian individuals had higher odds compared to mixed-race individuals (aOR = 1.29; 95% CI 1.05–1.58; p = 0.015). Residents of the southern region showed increased odds (aOR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.1–1.99).
CONCLUSION: Current e-cigarette use in Brazil is independently associated with younger age, male sex, Caucasian ethnicity, and residence in southern Brazil. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening public policies that regulate and control these devices as well as educational campaigns targeting high-risk groups.
Downloads
References
Rotta AES, Nascimento RH, Dal Prá P. Os efeitos do uso do cigarro eletrônico na saúde dos usuários: Uma revisão integrativa. RSD. 2024 Mar 25;13(3):e9913345359. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v13i3.45359.
Machado LL, Souza AC, Drumond CL, Quental OB. O uso do cigarro eletrônico e seus impactos na saúde: uma revisão de literatura. REASE. 2024 May 20;10(5):3553–66. https://doi.org/10.51891/rease.v10i5.14050.
Godói AT, Oliveira HCM, Figueiredo JF, et al. Prevalência e fatores associados ao uso de cigarro eletrônico por estudantes universitários. Arq Ciênc Saúde Unipar. 2024 Apr 2;28(1):160–73. https://doi.org/10.25110/arqsaude.v28i1.2024-9992.
Souza Resende AC, Matos EJD Jr, Martins FAP, et al. Dispositivos eletrônicos de fumar no período da adolescência alterações sistémicas e bucais: revisão de literatura [Internet]. 2025 Oct 30. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.17484170.
Barufaldi LA, Guerra RL, Albuquerque RCR, et al. Risco de iniciação ao tabagismo com o uso de cigarros eletrônicos: revisão sistemática e meta-análise. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva. 2021;26:6089–103. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320212612.35032020.
Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Departamento de Análise Epidemiológica e Vigilância de Doenças Não Transmissíveis. Vigitel Brasil 2023: vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico: estimativas sobre frequência e distribuição sociodemográfica de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas nas capitais dos 26 estados brasileiros e no Distrito Federal em 2023. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 2023. 131 p.
Glantz SA, Bareham DW. E-cigarettes: use, effects on smoking, risks, and policy implications. Annu Rev Public Health. 2018 Apr 1;39:215–35. PMID: 29323609; https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040617-013757.
Guerriero ICZ, Minayo MC. A aprovação da Resolução CNS nº 510/2016 é um avanço para a ciência brasileira. Saúde e Sociedade. 2019 Aug 20;28(4):299–310. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-12902019190232.
Regina Martins S, Araújo (in memoriam) AJ, Wehrmeister FC, et al. Prevalence and associated factors of experimentation with and current use of water pipes and electronic cigarettes among medical students: a multicentric study in Brazil. J Bras Pneumol. 2023 Jan 9;e20210467. https://doi.org/10.36416/1806-3756/e20210467.
Menezes AMB, Wehrmeister FC, Sardinha LMV, et al. Use of electronic cigarettes and hookah in Brazil: a new and emerging landscape: the Covitel study, 2022. J Bras Pneumol. 2023;49:e20220290. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36416/1806-3756/e20220290.
Khouja JN, Suddell SF, Peters SE, Taylor AE, Munafò MR. Is e-cigarette use in non-smoking young adults associated with later smoking?: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Tob Control. 2020 Mar 10;30(1):8–15. PMID: 32156694; https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055433.
Malta DC, Gomes CS, Alves FTA, Oliveira PPV, Freitas PC, Andreazzi M. The use of cigarettes, hookahs, electronic cigarettes, and other tobacco indicators among Brazilian schoolchildren: data from National School Health Survey 2019. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2022;25:e220014. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-549720220014.
Rahman MA, Hann N, Wilson A, Worrall-Carter L. Electronic cigarettes: patterns of use, health effects, use in smoking cessation and regulatory issues. Tob Induc Dis. 2014 Dec 15;12(1):21. PMID: 25745382; https://doi.org/10.1186/1617-9625-12-21.
Santos IS, Santos JM, Karam SA. Lifetime and active use of electronic cigarettes among Brazilian adolescents: The 2019 national school health survey – PeNSE 2019. Public Health. 2025 Jan;238:117–23. PMID: 39644732; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2024.09.025.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 São Paulo Medical Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
