Sociodemographic Risk Indicators of Hookah Smoking Among White Americans: a Pilot Study

Background: Despite the sustained public health efforts to decrease cigarette smoking, there is an increasing trend in the use of alternative tobacco products that are perceived by some as less harmful. One example is hookah smoking. This study aimed to assess hookah trends among White Americans.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-five White American adults residing in southeast Michigan answered a self-administered standardized questionnaire that included basic demographics, socioeconomic status, and questions related to hookah smoking behavior. Logistic regression was used to determine risk indicators for hookah smoking.

Results: The combined prevalence of hookah smoking in the White American study population was 19%, with 10% of the sample smoking hookah only and 9% smoking both hookah and cigarettes. Approximately 19% of respondents believed that smoking hookah was less harmful than smoking cigarettes. Significant risk indicators for smoking hookah were being younger than 22 years and living with a family member who used tobacco.

Discussion: In addition to reporting the prevalence of use in this important group of potential users, we outline important sociodemographic risk factors for hookah use in a non-Arab American population. More research is needed with a larger population to better understand this new tobacco trend in order to curb a new potential health threat.