The Case of Nicotine Use – Behavioural and Clinical Data
Chairs: Angelos Hatzakis & Ignatios Ikonomidis
Speakers:
- Konstantinos Kesanopoulos: Youth Smoking Trends in Greece: Analysing Adolescent Behaviours and Influences
- Kallirrhoe Kourea: Differential Effects of Heat-Not-Burn, Electronic and Conventional Cigarettes on Endothelial Glycocalyx
In this session, the use of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) products will be explored from two key perspectives: behavioral and clinical.
Adolescence is a critical period for the onset of smoking behaviors, with many individuals starting to smoke or developing nicotine dependence before the age of 18. Young people, in particular, are more vulnerable to nicotine addiction, requiring fewer cigarettes and less time to establish dependence compared to adults. Konstantinos Kesanopoulos will present findings from the 2023 and 2013 Global Youth Tobacco Surveys (GYTS) in Greece, focusing on adolescents aged 13-15. His analysis reveals significant changes over the past decade in tobacco use, cessation attempts, exposure to secondhand smoke, and the impact of tobacco control measures.
Kallirrhoe Kourea will present research that investigates the effects of different tobacco and nicotine products—heat-not-burn (HNB) devices, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), and conventional cigarettes—on the endothelial glycocalyx, a vital protective layer lining blood vessels. The study compares the distinct impacts of these three products on the glycocalyx, potentially highlighting varying degrees of harm. This research is essential for understanding the relative health risks associated with each product, particularly in relation to cardiovascular health.
Speakers
