PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Objectives: Adolescent tobacco use often leads to adult smoking, yet longitudinal evidence in the Republic of Korea is limited. This study examined the annual incidence, current use, dual use patterns, and first product type among Korean adolescents using data from the Korean Youth Health Behavior Panel Survey (KYHPS).
Methods: Data from Waves 1–6 (2019–2024) of the KYHPS, comprising 5,051 students followed annually, were analyzed. Use patterns of conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products were assessed, accounting for longitudinal weights and complex survey design.
Results: Annual incidence of tobacco product use peaked at the transition to 10th grade (3.29%) and declined thereafter. Among 11th-grade girls, the prevalence of e-cigarette use (1.54%) surpassed that of conventional cigarettes (1.33%) for the first time. Of dual users, 36.3% initiated with e-cigarettes before transitioning to other tobacco products, suggesting a possible gateway effect of e-cigarettes.
Conclusions: The transition from late middle to early high school is a critical intervention period for preventing adolescent tobacco initiation. Comprehensive tobacco control strategies encompassing all tobacco products are warranted.

Objectives: Korean cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines are updated every 5 years. This report presents the major changes and outlines the development process pertaining to the updated 2025 CPR guidelines.
Methods: Seven task forces were organized with members nominated by professional societies associated with CPR. Each task force utilized the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology to develop key research questions before conducting systematic evidence reviews. The 2025 CPR guidelines were decided based on the reviewed evidence and discussions to achieve a consensus.
Results: The 2025 guidelines include the following major modifications. 1) Rehabilitation and recovery are added to the chain of survival. 2) Dispatchers should be able to instruct the caller on the use of an automated external defibrillator. 3) It is recommended that trained rescuers should initiate rescue breaths in drowning-related cardiac arrests. 4) Double sequential defibrillation or vector change is advised for refractory ventricular fibrillation. 5) The target temperature for post-resuscitation temperature management is revised from 32–36°C to 33–37.5°C. 6) Public-access defibrillation is recommended for children aged ≥1 year. 7) The use of supraglottic airway devices and video laryngoscopy is suggested for neonatal resuscitation. 8) Feedback devices are recommended in CPR training. 9) A first aid section is added to address emergencies associated with cardiac arrest.
Conclusions: The CPR guidelines have been revised based on the latest evidence. It is expected that the implementation of these updated guidelines and their inculcation via training programs will improve survival rates in cardiac arrest cases.