Background

Tobacco smoking using waterpipe - also known as narguileh, hookah and shisha - is traditional to region of the Middle East (Figure 1)[1]. The waterpipe device heats the tobacco using charcoal, filters the resulting smoke in a bowl of water, and directs it to a rubber pipe for inhalation[2]. The type of tobacco smoked, and the shape, the size, and the appearance of the waterpipe device vary across regions[3].

Figure 1
figure 1

Annotated figure of a waterpipe smoking device

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A recent systematic review found that waterpipe tobacco smoking was significantly associated with lung cancer, respiratory illness, low birth weight and periodontal disease [4]. An association with bladder cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, oral dysplasia or infertility was not ruled out [4]. Another systematic review found that waterpipe tobacco smoking negatively affects lung function and may be as harmful as cigarette smoking[5]. In spite of these deleterious health effects, waterpipe smoking is widely believed to be a less harmful form of tobacco smoking,[6] and a safer alternative to cigarette smoking[7–9].

Recent studies have reported relatively high prevalence rates of waterpipe tobacco smoking in Middle Eastern countries,[10] but also in western countries such as the United States,[2, 11] the United Kingdom,[12] and Australia[13]. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an advisory note calling for a better understanding of national and global trends of waterpipe tobacco smoking[14]. In 2007, the American Lung Association labeled waterpipe smoking as an 'emerging deadly trend'[2]. The association called for more research on the patterns of use of waterpipe amongst various populations and to investigate its use as part of the national surveys on youth and adult tobacco use.

The primary objective of our study was to systematically review the medical literature for the prevalence of waterpipe tobacco use among the general population as well as specific populations. A secondary objective was to identify the factors associated with waterpipe tobacco use.

Methods

No protocol for this review has been published.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria were:

  • Cohort studies and cross sectional studies

  • Assessment of the prevalence of use of waterpipe for the purpose of tobacco smoking.

  • The target population is either the general population or a specific population of interest such as high school students, university students, and pregnant women.

  • Prevalence of waterpipe smoking reported separately from the prevalence of other forms of smoking

Exclusion criteria were:

  • Convenience sampling

  • Sampling methodology did not clearly lead to a representative sample of the target population (e.g., excluding cigarette smokers).

  • No measure of prevalence

Search Strategy

We electronically searched the following databases in June 2008, MEDLINE (1950 onwards), EMBASE (1980 onwards), and ISI the Web of Science using no language restrictions. The search strategy was based on related systematic review,[15] a review of eligible papers, and an Internet search for the synonyms of waterpipe (Additional file 1)[15]. We also used the 'Related Articles' feature in PubMed and reviewed the reference lists of included and relevant papers.

Selection process

Two reviewers independently screened the title and abstract of identified citations for potential eligibility. They then used a standardized and pilot-tested form to independently screen the full texts of citations judged potentially eligible by at least one reviewer. They resolved disagreements by discussion or using an arbitrator.

Data abstraction

Two reviewers used a standardized and pilot-tested form to independently abstract data and resolved disagreements by discussion or using an arbitrator. Abstracted data related to the following:

  • Study methodology: sampling frame, sampling method, recruitment method, and administration method

  • Methodological quality: sample size calculation, validity of tool, pilot testing, and response rate

  • Population: country, target population, setting (location and time period), and numbers sampled, participated, and analyzed

  • Results including prevalence results (ever, current, regular) of waterpipe only smoking, waterpipe smoking (regardless of other tobacco products use), cigarette smoking, and factors significantly associated with waterpipe smoking.

Data analysis

We calculated the kappa statistic to evaluate the agreement in assessing full texts for eligibility. We stratified data analysis by country and age group. We present the results by the region of the world.

Results

Description of included studies

Figure 2 shows the study flow and reasons for study exclusions. We considered a total of 64 studies. Of these we excluded 26 studies for the following reasons: convenience sampling (n = 9) not representative sampling (n = 7); did not measure prevalence (n = 6) waterpipe smoking not reported separately from other forms of smoking (n = 3) and qualitative study of waterpipe smokers (n = 1) (Additional file 2). We included a total of 38 studies. The countries in which the studies were conducted were: Lebanon (n = 10), Arabic Gulf countries (n = 8), USA (n = 6), Pakistan (n = 4), Egypt (n = 4), Syria (n = 3), Australia (n = 1), UK (n = 1), and Estonia (n = 1). The target populations in the identified studies were middle or high school students (n = 11), university students (n = 8), adults (n = 17), and pregnant women (n = 3). Only 26 of the 38 papers reported the year of data collection. All of the papers were published after 1998.

Figure 2
figure 2

Flow of studies considered in the systematic review

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The studies varied by whether they reported the prevalence of waterpipe only smokers (n = 5), all waterpipe smokers (n = 37) (i.e., irrespective of whether they smoked other forms of tobacco), and by the types of measure of waterpipe smoking: ever smoker (n = 16), current smoker (n = 34), and regular smoker (n = 3). Five studies reported on group waterpipe smoking while 35 studies reported on individual smoking.

Methodological quality of included studies

Ten studies reported sample size calculation. The instruments used to measure waterpipe use were: self developed instrument with no validation reported (n = 15); self developed instrument based on previously validated instruments, with no validation of the new instrument reported (n = 7); self developed validated instrument (n = 1); previously developed instrument with no validation reported (n = 1); previously validated instrument that measured "forms of smoked tobacco products other than cigarettes" which the authors assumed to be waterpipe smoking (n = 1) and not reported (n = 13). Fifteen studies reported pilot testing the measurement instrument. Twenty-nine studies reported response rate that varied from 18% to 62% for online administered surveys, 46% to 100% for paper-based surveys, and 70% for telephone survey.

Additional file 3 provides detailed description of the characteristics of included studies by world region. Table 1 provides a summary description of these studies. Figures 3, 4 and 5 respectively present the prevalence for school students, university students and adults across countries for which published studies were identified. In cases where more than one study was available, we used medians. In most of these cases, the values relate to specific populations in that country and not to the general population. The following paragraphs of the results section provide synthesized information by region.

Table 1 Summary of included studies
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Figure 3
figure 3

Waterpipe use among school students

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Figure 4
figure 4

Waterpipe use among university students

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Figures 5
figure 5

Waterpipe use among adults

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Middle East region

School students

two studies of intermediate and secondary school students in Lebanon reported 25% current and 65%-66% ever waterpipe smoking (Additional file 3; Part 1)[16–18]. Waterpipe smoking was associated with male sex, [16, 17] attending public schools, and secondary classes[16, 18]. The prevalence of current waterpipe smoking was about 10 times that of current cigarette smoking[16–18]. Two studies of secondary school boys in Saudi Arabia reported 9% and 10% current waterpipe smoking respectively[19, 20]. A study of secondary school boys in Bahrain reported 13% waterpipe smoking and 2% waterpipe only smoking[21]. A multi-national study conducted in all schools with grades of 13-15 year old students reported current waterpipe smoking prevalence of 15% in Bahrain, 16% in Kuwait, 9% in Oman, 14% in Qatar, 15% in United Arab Emirates (UAE), and 15% in Yemen[20]. The study reported that boys were significantly more likely than girls to use waterpipe in all countries except Qatar. Waterpipe smoking was significantly more common than cigarette smoking among boys and girls in the majority of countries included in this survey.

University students

one study from Lebanon reported 28% current waterpipe smoking and 43% ever waterpipe smoking,[22] while another study reported 21% waterpipe only smoking[23]. Waterpipe only smoking was associated with male sex, and alcohol use (> 7 pints beer/day)[23]. The prevalence of waterpipe only smoking was about 3 times that of cigarette smoking only (Additional file 3; Part 1)[22, 23]. Two studies reported 8% ever waterpipe smoking among male medical students of Saudi Arabia and 6% current waterpipe smoking among students of University of Sharjah in UAE, respectively[24, 25]. Compared with cigarette smoking, the prevalence of waterpipe smoking was slightly higher in Saudi Arabia and slightly lower in the United Arab Emirates. One study from Syria reported 15% current and 46% ever waterpipe smoking[9, 26–28]. Waterpipe smoking was associated with male sex, cigarette smoking, number of friends smoking waterpipe only, number of friends smoking both cigarette and waterpipe, and number of waterpipes smoked daily in the house. The prevalence of cigarette smoking was slightly higher than that of waterpipe smoking. One study of students of secondary schools in villages of Egypt reported 19% ever waterpipe smoking[29]. Three studies conducted among male adults residing in villages reported 11%-15% prevalence of waterpipe smoking in groups [30–32].

Adults

one study from Lebanon found 15% current waterpipe smoking and 5% group waterpipe smoking[33]. One study of adults attending primary care and specialty clinics found 4% waterpipe only smoking. One study of school students found a prevalence of 9% waterpipe only smoking by their parents at home [23]. The prevalence of cigarette only smoking was about 5 times that of waterpipe only smoking (Additional file 3; Part 1). A study of government ministry employees in Kuwait found 63% ever waterpipe smoking[34]. A study of female teaching staff and employees of King AbdulAziz University of Saudi Arabia reported 11% current waterpipe smoking with moderate correlation between waterpipe smoking and cigarette smoking[35]. A study of school teachers in Saudi Arabia reported 4% current waterpipe smoking[19]. A study of adults aged 19 and above in Bahrain reported 5% current waterpipe smoking. A study of physicians in Bahrain and Kuwait reported 6% and 12% current waterpipe smoking, respectively[36]. The prevalence of cigarette smoking was 1-3 times that of waterpipe smoking. One study from Syria found a prevalence of 12% of current waterpipe use [37] while another study found a prevalence of 9% of current waterpipe smoking[38]. The prevalence of cigarette smoking was 3-4 times that of waterpipe smoking[37, 38].

Pregnant women

3 studies reported 7%-18% ever smoking and 5%-6% waterpipe smoking during pregnancy [39–41]. The prevalence of cigarette smoking was about 3-5 times that of waterpipe smoking during pregnancy and about 3 folds before pregnancy (Additional file 3; Part 1).

South Asia region

We identified studies conducted only in Pakistan.

University students

One study reported 33% current and 53% ever waterpipe smoking (Additional file 3; Part 2). Of these, 31% students reported sharing waterpipe smoking with others[42]. Both current and ever waterpipe smoking were predominant in males (p < 0.001).

Adults

One study targeting female adults living on an island reported 41% waterpipe smoking[43]. Another study reported 13% waterpipe smoking[44]. Another study of a nationally representative sample reported 6% current waterpipe smoking among adults aged 15 and older[45]. In the more representative sample of the two latter studies, the prevalence of cigarette smoking was about 2 times that of waterpipe smoking (Additional file 3; Part 2)[45].

Americas region

School students

3 studies targeted 14-18 years old school students with high percentages of Middle Eastern descent (Additional file 3; Part 3) [10, 43–45]. These 3 studies reported 12%- 15% current, 27%-36% ever, and 7%-8% regular waterpipe smoking among students of Middle Eastern descent. They reported 5%- 8% current, 11%- 21% ever, and 3%-5% regular waterpipe smoking among students of other ethnicities. Current waterpipe smoking was associated with current cigarette smoking, Arab American ethnicity, grade in school (by grade), and family waterpipe smoking [46, 47]. The prevalence of current waterpipe smoking was about 2-6 folds that of current cigarette smoking among Arabs and about half of that of cigarette smoking among non Arabs [11, 46–48].

One study targeting middle and high school students of the state of Arizona found 4% current and 6% ever waterpipe smoking[49]. Current waterpipe smoking was associated with grade level, attending a charter school, Asian American and white ethnicities (compared with American Indian or Alaska Native), and male sex[49].

University students

1 study found 10% current, and 41% ever waterpipe smoking. The prevalence of current waterpipe smoking was about half that of current smoking (Additional file 3; Part 3)[50].

Adults

1 study conducted on US Air Force personnel reported a prevalence of 0.3% waterpipe smoking during their participation in a one year clinical trial of smoking prevention/cessation (Additional file 3; Part 3) [51].

European region

School students

A study conducted in a nationally representative sample of 11-15 year old school students in Estonia reported 21% current waterpipe smoking (Additional file 3; Part 4) [52]. The prevalence of current waterpipe smoking was about 1.5 times that of current cigarette smoking.

University students

A study on university students reported 38% ever waterpipe smoking, 8% regular waterpipe smoking and 5% waterpipe only smoking (Additional file 3; Part 4)[12]. Ever waterpipe smoking was associated with male gender, and cigarette smoking.

Australia

Adults

A study conducted on Arabic speaking adults reported 11% current waterpipe smoking (Additional file 3; Part 5) [13, 53]. Waterpipe use was associated with age group 40-59 (relative to >60), and other forms of smoking.

Discussion

In summary, surveys found alarming prevalence of current waterpipe smoking among school students in the United States, especially among Arab Americans (12%-15%),[11, 46–48] the Arabic Gulf region (9%-16%),[19–21] Estonia (21%),[52] and Lebanon (25%)[16–18]. Similarly, the prevalence of current waterpipe smoking among university students was high in the Arabic Gulf region (6%),[25] the United Kingdom (8%),[12] the United States (10%), [50] Syria (15%),[9, 26–28] Lebanon (28%),[22] and Pakistan (33%)[42]. The prevalence of current waterpipe smoking among adults was the following: Pakistan (6%),[45] Arabic Gulf region (4%-12%), [19, 35, 36] Australia (11% in Arab speaking adults),[13, 53] Syria (9%-12%),[37, 38] and Lebanon (15%)[33]. Studies reported high prevalence of group waterpipe smoking in Lebanon (5%), [33] and Egypt (11%-15%) [30, 31]. In Lebanon, 5%-6% pregnant women reported smoking waterpipe during pregnancy [40, 41].

Our findings are consistent with national surveys conducted by the WHO and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in a number of countries (Additional file 4) [54]. Also, consistently with our findings, two recent non-systematic reviews of the topic found that waterpipe tobacco smoking is increasing in prevalence worldwide with 10-20% prevalence in Arab American young adult populations in the United States [55, 56].

This study has a number of strengths. First, and to our knowledge, this is the first systematic review of the prevalence of waterpipe smoking and its associated factors across countries, age groups and genders. Second, we used the Cochrane Collaboration methodology for conducting systematic reviews, i.e. using a very sensitive and comprehensive search strategy, a duplicate and independent selection process, a duplicate and independent data abstraction process, and a rigorous appraisal of the methodological quality of included studies. Third, we abstracted the data on cigarette and other forms of tobacco smoking, wherever applicable, for comparative purposes.

The study also has a number of limitations. First, only four studies were conducted at national levels[20, 36, 45, 52]. Second, studies varied by whether they reported the prevalence of waterpipe only smokers or all waterpipe smokers. They similarly varied by the type(s) of measure of waterpipe smoking reported (e.g. current, ever, and regular). However, the studies were consistent in the definitions of these measurement types. Third, only one study used a validated tool to measure exposure to waterpipe smoking, a practice that can vary widely in terms of frequency of use, the length of each use, and quantity of tobacco per single use [57]. Third, all of the included studies were cross-sectional in design and did not allow analyses for time trends.

The prevalence of waterpipe smoking is alarmingly high, particularly among school students [11, 16–19, 21, 29, 46–49, 52] and university students[12, 22–28, 42, 50]. This prevalence is consistently comparable to cigarette smoking among school students [16–21, 29, 46–48, 52] and university students [12, 23–28, 50]. The high prevalence of waterpipe smoking among the youth could have been exacerbated by a common belief that this form of smoking is less harmful than cigarette smoking [8, 58]. School students are particularly vulnerable because of the additional risk of secondhand waterpipe smoking (compared with secondhand cigarette smoking) given the social acceptability of this form of smoking [23]. Pregnant women represent a similarly vulnerable group in which the prevalence is concerning because of the evidence of increased incidence of low birth weight and pulmonary problem in newborns of mothers smoking waterpipe [39–41].

Another feature that might have contributed to the rise of waterpipe smoking is its higher social acceptability compared with cigarette smoking. In many settings, particularly in Middle Eastern countries and communities, waterpipe smoking is practiced during social activities whereby family members and friends smoke together[59]. Indeed, a number of studies showed that smoking in the house, [3, 26–28, 38, 60, 61] smoking in the family [11, 25, 46–48] and smoking among friends [11, 25–28, 48] are associated with waterpipe smoking among school students and university students.

A pattern of spread of waterpipe smoking appears to be through immigration. Indeed, while Middle Eastern countries had some of the highest prevalence of waterpipe smoking [3, 15–33, 35–45, 60–64], in certain Western countries (e.g. USA, Australia) groups of Middle Eastern descent had the highest prevalence of waterpipe smoking [11–13, 46–52]. These observations suggest that immigrant groups tend to maintain some of their culture specific health behaviors such as waterpipe smoking [65, 66]. Moreover, immigrant groups might also pass on these behaviors to other groups as suggested by the significant prevalence of waterpipe smoking among non-Middle Eastern groups in these Western countries [11–13, 46–52]. However, this pattern has not been found in certain European countries with very high prevalence of waterpipe use such as Estonia, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany [67].

As stated above, waterpipe tobacco smoking was consistently more common in school and university students than in adults in countries in which surveys were conducted. In the absence of longitudinal data, it is not clear whether these results reflect a time trend of age specific prevalence. If age specific prevalence has not been increasing, the above observation suggests that adolescents tend to quit waterpipe smoking as they age into adulthood. If age specific prevalence has been increasing, this suggests that school and university students have been affected the most and we might see a cohort effect of increasing prevalence among adults as these younger individuals age. Indeed, there is emerging evidence that waterpipe use predicts regular cigarette smoking, at least among Danish youth [67].

Conclusion

Public health agencies need to recognize the burgeoning prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking particularly among the youth and ensure the comprehensiveness of their tobacco control strategies. These strategies could include those proven to be effective with cigarette smoking, i.e., stricter regulation of advertisement and age restriction on sales. Awareness campaigns should to be tailored to the prevailing belief systems and based on and culturally sensitive assessments of the roots of waterpipe tobacco smoking. Surveillance programs would help in monitoring the effectiveness of public health policies and strategies put in place.

There is a need for longitudinal nationally representative studies to better understand the epidemiology of this new epidemic particularly in terms of the maintenance of waterpipe smoking after teen age and the role of waterpipe as a gateway for future cigarette smoking and assist public health agencies in developing and applying control policies and strategies. Qualitative studies would be extremely helpful in understanding the misconceptions about waterpipe smoking and the relationship between waterpipe smoking and the initiation of cigarette smoking particularly among the youth. On the other hand, future studies need to be of higher methodological quality and particularly use validated tools. There is also a need to standardize the methods of reporting the prevalence (waterpipe only smokers versus all waterpipe smokers) and the type(s) of measure of waterpipe smoking (e.g. current, ever, and regular).