Abstract B001: Biopsychosocial correlates of smoking menthol cigarettes and cessation among Latino smokers
Authors: Arana-Chicas Evelyn , Cartujano-Barrera Francisco , Cai Xueya , Gao Shan , Cox Lisa S. , Cupertino Ana P. 
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Smoking menthol cigarettes is more prevalent among Latinos compared to non-Latino Whites. Latinos who smoke menthol are less likely to quit than Latinos who do not smoke menthol. However, there is scant information on the biopsychosocial factors correlated with smoking menthol among Latinos. Objective: To assess the biopsychosocial correlates of smoking menthol cigarettes and whether smoking menthol is associated with cessation among Latino smokers. Methods: This secondary analysis utilized baseline data from the Decídetexto study, an mhealth smoking cessation randomized clinical trial for Latinos. Participants resided in the United States and originated from the U.S. and 20 Latin American countries. Biopsychosocial variables included body mass index, # of comorbidities, age, alcohol use, depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, education, health insurance, household income, marital status, country of origin, and acculturation – years in the U.S., primary language, and generation, and smoking cessation. Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVAs were employed. Logistic regression models were performed to test the association between menthol use and smoking cessation, when treatment arm and other demographic variables were controlled. Results: Participants’ (n=457) mean age was 48.7 (SD=11.1), most were female (54.7%), primarily Spanish speakers (70.5%), daily smokers (91.7%), married (53.6%), and had an annual income between 0 – 29K (42.7%). Almost half of participants currently smoke menthol cigarettes (48.8%) and mean daily cigarettes was 11.6 (SD=8.03). Use of menthol was associated positively with younger age (46.3 vs 51.0 years; p&lt;.001), having health insurance (53.6% vs 38.7%; p=0.004), unemployment (57.1% vs 44.6%, p=0.013), living longer years in the U.S. (31.0 vs 27.5 years; p=0.026), being 2nd generation in the U.S. compared to 1st generation (73.1% vs 41.7%; p&lt;.001), and speaking primarily English (63.0% vs 42.9%, p&lt;.001). Moreover, Puerto Ricans had significantly higher usage of menthol cigarettes compared to Latinos from other Latin American countries (75.7% vs 38.8%; p&lt;.001). There were no significant correlations between psychological and biological variables and smoking menthol cigarettes. When looking at self-reported and biochemically verified cessation rates, Latinos who smoke menthol had lower quit rates (26.5% and 10.7% abstinent, respectively) compared to Latinos who do not smoke menthol (28.2% and 12.8% abstinent, respectively) (OR=1.05; 95% CI=0.65, 1.69; p=0.84 and OR=0.89; 95% CI=0.47, 1.68; p=0.71, respectively), although not statistically significant. Conclusion: Latinos who are more acculturated and from lower socioeconomic status were more likely to smoke menthol. The higher rates of continued smoking among menthol users is clinically meaningful and suggests menthol use may mark the need for additional support for successful quitting. These results are particularly relevant for Puerto Rican smokers who are more likely to smoke and use menthol cigarettes compared to other Latino subgroups.

Citation Format: Evelyn Arana-Chicas, Francisco Cartujano-Barrera, Xueya Cai, Shan Gao, Lisa S. Cox, Ana P. Cupertino. Biopsychosocial correlates of smoking menthol cigarettes and cessation among Latino smokers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B001.