<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The goal of the present work is to determine if menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers differ with respect to time to first cigarette (TTFC) and successful smoking cessation via a meta-analysis of published results. For 13 independent estimates, menthol smokers were slightly but statistically significantly more likely to exhibit TTFC ≤ 5 min (random-effects odds ratio (OR) = 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04–1.21), while 17 independent estimates provided a non-significant difference for TTFC ≤ 30 min (random-effects OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.96–1.16). For cessation studies, meta-analysis of 30 published estimates indicated a decreased likelihood for menthol cigarette smokers to quit (random-effects OR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80–0.96). There was no difference between cessation rates for Caucasian menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers, but the results support that African American menthol cigarette smokers find it more difficult to quit. Adjustment of cessation for socioeconomic status eliminated any statistically significant advantage for smoking cessation in non-menthol smokers. In conclusion, these results suggest that the observed differences in cessation rates between menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers are likely explained by differences in socioeconomic status and also suggest that TTFC may not be a robust predictor of successful smoking cessation.</p>
</abstract>

The goal of the present work is to determine if menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers differ with respect to time to first cigarette (TTFC) and successful smoking cessation via a meta-analysis of published results. For 13 independent estimates, menthol smokers were slightly but statistically significantly more likely to exhibit TTFC ≤ 5 min (random-effects odds ratio (OR) = 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04–1.21), while 17 independent estimates provided a non-significant difference for TTFC ≤ 30 min (random-effects OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.96–1.16). For cessation studies, meta-analysis of 30 published estimates indicated a decreased likelihood for menthol cigarette smokers to quit (random-effects OR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80–0.96). There was no difference between cessation rates for Caucasian menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers, but the results support that African American menthol cigarette smokers find it more difficult to quit. Adjustment of cessation for socioeconomic status eliminated any statistically significant advantage for smoking cessation in non-menthol smokers. In conclusion, these results suggest that the observed differences in cessation rates between menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers are likely explained by differences in socioeconomic status and also suggest that TTFC may not be a robust predictor of successful smoking cessation.

Menthol Cigarettes, Time to First Cigarette, and Smoking Cessation

Edward Sanders Scientific Consulting, Peseux,

Philip Morris Products SA, Philip Morris International, Research & Development, Neuchâtel,

Contributions to Tobacco & Nicotine Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Menthol Cigarettes, Time to First Cigarette, and Smoking Cessation"}

The goal of the present work is to determine if menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers differ with respect to time to first cigarette (TTFC) and successful...

Menthol Cigarettes, Time to First Cigarette, and Smoking Cessation

Published Online: Feb 10, 2017

Page range: 4 - 32

Received: Aug 09, 2016

Accepted: Oct 25, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cttr-2017-0003

Keywords
Smoking cessation, time to first cigarette, menthol, socioeconomic status

© 2017 Beiträge zur Tabakforschung International

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Menthol Cigarettes, Time to First Cigarette, and Smoking Cessation

Published Online: Feb 10, 2017

Page range: 4 - 32

Received: Aug 09, 2016

Accepted: Oct 25, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cttr-2017-0003

KeywordsSmoking cessation, time to first cigarette, menthol, socioeconomic status

© 2017 Beiträge zur Tabakforschung International

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Smoking cessation, time to first cigarette, menthol, socioeconomic status