ArticlePloS one2026
Urinary cotinine concentration as a biomarker of environmental exposure to Nicotine in Vietnam: Results from a Nationwide Survey in 2024.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Data mining and clinical observational study on the association between smoking and premature ovarian insufficiency.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Observational
- Biomarker-based assessment of tobacco smoke exposure in Saudi females via analysis of urinary cotinine level.PloS one · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAccurate sources on environmental nicotine exposure, such as biomarker data, remain insufficient in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to i) determine the optimal cut-off point of urinary cotinine that discriminates smokers from non-smokers, ii) estimate misclassification rate between self-reported smoking and urinary cotinine, and III) explore the distribution of tobacco smoke exposure levels using urinary cotinine concentrations among adults in Vietnam in 2024.
methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 across seven provinces representing Vietnam's ecological regions. Using multi-level stratified random sampling techniques, 1,077 adults aged 18-60 were recruited. Demographic and behavioural data were obtained through structured interviews. Urinary cotinine to creatinine ratios (CCR) were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The Youden J method was used to determine the optimal cut-off point of CCR. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 20.0.
resultsSelf-reported results showed that 18.3% were active smokers, 33.4% were exposed to SHS at home, and 48.3% lived in a non-smoking household. The optimal CCR cut-off value of 20.947 µg/g can distinguish smokers and non-smokers with a sensitivity of 61.5%, specificity of 93.2%, 70.6% positive predictive value and 90% negative predictive value. Regional disparities and urinary cotinine among the non-smoking groups suggest potential environmental exposure to nicotine.
conclusionThe CCR level of 20.947 µg/g indicated the optimal cut-off value to distinguish smokers and non-smokers. Vietnam was among countries with high levels of environmental nicotine exposure, with significant variation by sex, education, occupation, income, and region. Urinary cotinine is a reliable biomarker for nicotine exposure and should be integrated into routine surveillance. These findings support the need for stricter enforcement of smoke-free environments and interventions tailored to reduce involuntary tobacco exposure.
Indexed as
Identifiers
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.