Table 1 Distribution of non-users of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTP) according to starting their use during the Covid-19 lockdown, by selected demographic and socio-economic features, addictive behaviours and other individual characteristics. Corresponding odds ratios* (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Italy, 2020.

From: Use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products during the Covid-19 pandemic

Characteristics (pre-lockdown)

E-cigarette non-users before lockdown

People who start using e-cigarette during lockdown

HTP non-users before lockdown

People who start using HTP during lockdown

%

OR (95% CI)

%

OR (95% CI)

Total

5516

1.8

 

5763

1.0

 

Sex

Women

2797

1.4

1.00a

2925

0.9

1.00a

Men

2720

2.2

1.56 (1.03–2.34)

2838

1.0

1.15 (0.67–1.97)

Age group

18–34

1451

2.8

1.00a

1493

1.3

1.00a

35–54

2230

1.7

0.64 (0.41–1.00)

2342

1.0

0.77 (0.42–1.42)

55–74

1836

1.1

0.39 (0.23–0.68)

1928

0.6

0.49 (0.23–1.02)

P for trend

  

0.001

  

0.056

Level of education

Low

850

1.4

1.00a

886

0.5

1.00a

Intermediate

2803

1.8

1.22 (0.65–2.30)

2922

0.7

1.25 (0.46–3.45)

High

1864

1.9

1.22 (0.63–2.37)

1954

1.5

2.73 (1.03–7.30)

P for trend

  

0.628

  

0.005

Smoking status

Never

3758

2.0

1.00a

3887

1.2

1.00a

Former

477

2.1

1.25 (0.64–2.47)

537

0.8

0.74 (0.27–2.07)

Current

1281

1.1

0.59 (0.33–1.05)

1338

0.2

0.19 (0.06–0.61)

Alcohol (AUDIT-C)

Not at risk

4087

1.6

1.00a

4257

0.8

1.00a

At risk

1430

2.3

1.49 (0.98–2.28)

1506

1.2

1.45 (0.82–2.55)

Cannabis use

No

5162

1.6

1.00a

5376

0.9

1.00a

Yes

355

4.4

2.35 (1.33–4.13)

386

2.0

2.04 (0.93–4.50)

Gambling

No

4647

1.3

1.00a

4847

0.8

1.00

Yes

870

4.6

3.34 (2.18–5.11)

916

1.8

2.23 (1.22–4.07)

Anxiety symptoms (GAD-2)

No (score < 3)

4527

1.6

1.00a

4720

0.8

1.00a

Yes (score ≥ 3)

990

2.6

1.58 (1.00–2.52)

1043

1.5

1.78 (0.98–3.25)

Depressive symptoms (PHQ-2)

No (score < 3)

4765

1.7

1.00a

4965

0.9

1.00a

Yes (score ≥ 3)

751

2.3

1.35 (0.79–2.28)

798

1.1

1.16 (0.55–2.43)

  1. *Estimated by multiple logistic regression models after adjustment for sex, age, level of education and geographic area. Significant estimates at 0.05 level are in bold type.
  2. aReference category.