Polytobacco product use among current cigarette smokers in Hong Kong, China: results from population surveys (2015–17)

BACKGROUND: Polytobacco product use is increasingly popular, but little is known about the prevalence, trend, and factors of such use particularly in non-western countries. METHOD: A representative sample of 1139 current cigarette smokers aged 15+ (84.1% male) were telephone interviewed in Tobacco Control Policy-related Surveys in 2015–2017. Information collected included poly-tobacco use (PTU), smoking and socio-demographic characteristics. Associations of current PTU with related factors were analyzed using logistic regression with adjustment for confounders. Prevalence was weighted by age and sex of current cigarette users in the general population. RESULTS: Eighty-four point one percent (95% CI 81.4–86.6%) were exclusive cigarette smokers. Fifteen point nine percent (13.4–18.6%) were current polytobacco product users, 12.3% (10.2–14.8%) used one tobacco product and 2.52% (1.59–3.97%) used two tobacco products in addition to cigarette. Cigarette use with cigar was more common (6.28%, 4.75–8.27%), and the least used product with cigarette was e-cigarette (1.05%, 0.44–2.50%). The changes in overall prevalence of PTU by number of products use varied in 3 years. Current PTU was associated with being male (AOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.12–3.61), younger age (AORs range from 1.34–4.65, P for trend < .001) and less ready to quit (2.08, 1.09–3.97). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of PTU increased slowly by year, one tobacco product use with cigarette was more common. The most used tobacco product with cigarette was cigar. Being male, younger and less ready to quit were associated with current PTU. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10341-7.