Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of prior e-cigarette use (i.e., vaping) among American adults with and without disabilities, and analyze factors that influence the likelihood of vaping in 2017.

Methods: Using 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, we estimated the prevalence of vaping among working-age adults with and without disabilities. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to analyze the association of factors that predicted vaping. The national sample (n= 236,664) included working-age (18-64 years old) adults. Disability was defined as a limitation in hearing, vision, cognition, mobility, self-care, or independent living.

Results: Prior e-cigarette use was more prevalent (30.2% vs. 18.2%) for working-age adults with disabilities compared to those without disabilities. In the sub-group analysis, men with disabilities had lower odds of vaping (OR=0.91, p<.001) than women with disabilities. However, men without disabilities were more likely to use e-cigarettes (OR=1.31, p<.001) compared to women. Across all working-age adult e-cigarette smokers, men had higher odds of vaping (OR=1.17, p<.001) than women. Young adults (18 to 24 years) had a higher likelihood (OR=10.22, p<.001) of vaping than middle-age adults (45-54 years). However, African-American (OR=0.75, p<.001) and Hispanic adults (OR=0.68, p<.001) were less likely to use e-cigarettes compared to non-Hispanic whites. Persons who smoked at least 100 cigarettes were more likely to vape (OR=12.16, p<.001).

Conclusion: In addition to age, race, and frequency of tobacco use, disability status is a key factor that significantly influenced e-cigarette use in 2017. These findings underscore the importance of disability status in tobacco control policies.