SynthesisPloS one2018
The prevalence and trends of waterpipe tobacco smoking: A systematic review.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 140 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
140 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 272 citations in OpenAlex.
- The waterpipe smoking and human health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 191 observational studies.Systematic reviews · 2025Pooled it
- Interventions for waterpipe smoking cessation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Waterpipe on Oral Health Status: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Sultan Qaboos University medical journal · 2023Pooled it
- Using intervention mapping for hookah smoking cessation: a quasi-experimental evaluation.Addiction science & clinical practice · 2022Pooled it
- Preventing and controlling water pipe smoking: a systematic review of management interventions.BMC public health · 2021Pooled it
- Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards waterpipe tobacco smoking amongst college or university students: a systematic review.BMC public health · 2019Pooled it
- Impact of pictorial health warning labels on smoking beliefs and perceptions among waterpipe smokers: an online randomised cross-over experimental study.Tobacco control · 2023Trial
- Waterpipe Tobacco Warnings: An Experimental Study Among a Nationally Representative Sample of US Young Adults.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2021Trial
- Comparison of effects of charcoal versus electric heating of waterpipe tobacco on carbon monoxide levels: Cardiovascular measures; benzene, pyrene, and nicotine uptake; and subjective reactions.Toxicology reports · 2026Article
- Waterpipe Smoking Among Japanese Teens and Young Adults: an Emerging Public Health Concern.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2026Article
- Cancer Patterns and Barriers to Care Among Socioeconomically Vulnerable Populations in Tripoli: A Descriptive Study from a Local NGO.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Prevalence, patterns, and sociodemographic determinants of cigarette and waterpipe smoking among Syrian adults: evidence from a large blood donor cohort.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Indoor Air Pollutants of PM2.5, Carbon Monoxide, Nicotine, and Carcinogens in Waterpipe Bars.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2026Article
- Effect of the cysteine prodrug L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid onFrontiers in toxicology · 2026Article
- Quitting Shisha Smoking Among Young Adults in Germany: Insights From an Online Survey on Sociodemographic, Perceptual and Behavioural Economic Factors Associated With Quit Attempts.Tobacco use insights · 2026Article
- Waterpipe and Co-Use of Inhaled Nicotine and Tobacco Products: Findings from a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Household Survey in Germany.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2025Article
- Waterpipe use in Germany (2018 - 2024): Prevalence and sociodemographic differences in age of initiation.Journal of health monitoring · 2025Article
- Hookah Smoking and Risk ofHealth science reports · 2025Article
- Psychosocial factors driving common substances used among Ghanaian senior high school students.BMC research notes · 2025Article
- Emissions from conventional and electronic waterpipes relative to cigarettes and a heated tobacco product.Scientific reports · 2025Article
80 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionWaterpipe tobacco smoking is harmful to health however its prevalence estimates remain uncertain. We aimed to systematically review the medical literature on waterpipe tobacco prevalence and trends.
methodsWe searched Medline, Embase and ISI Web of Science for 'waterpipe' and its synonyms, without using language or date restrictions. We included any measure of waterpipe tobacco smoking prevalence in jurisdictionally representative populations. We stratified findings by prevalence measure (past 30 day, ever, regular or occasional, daily, other or unspecified) and age (adults or youth).
resultsWe included 129 studies reporting 355 estimates for 68 countries. In general, prevalence estimates among adults were highest in the Eastern Mediterranean, and among youth were about equal between Eastern Mediterranean and European regions. Past 30 day use was highest among Lebanese youth (37.2% in 2008), ever use was highest among Lebanese youth in 2002 and Lebanese university students in 2005 (both 65.3%), regular or occasional use was highest in among Iranian university students (16.3% in 2005), and daily use was highest among Egyptian youth (10.4% in 2005). Trend data were limited but most studies reported increased use over time, ranging from 0.3-1.0% per year among youth in the US to 2.9% per year among youth in Jordan (both for past 30 day use). Results were similar for ever use trends. Turkey (2.3% in 2008 to 0.8% in 2010) and Iraq (6.3% in 2008 and 4.8% in 2012) both witnessed decreased waterpipe use.
conclusionWaterpipe tobacco smoking is most prevalent in Eastern Mediterranean and European countries, and appears higher among youth than adults. Continued surveillance will be important to assess and inform policy measures to control waterpipe tobacco use.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.