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Tobacco control

It is estimated by the government's Statistics on Smoking in England 2006 [1] that in 2004 there were 89,000 deaths attributable to smoking in England and Wales. These deaths represent nearly one fifth of all lives lost (over age 35) in 2004 (23% of male and 13% of female deaths).

In England in 2004, smoking prevalence for adults was 25% (26% of men and 23% of women). Prevalence has steadily been falling since 1998.

Worldwide, it is estimated that smoking caused around 1 in 5 male and 1 in 20 female deaths in 2000 (4.83 million deaths). Around 35% of these were caused by smoking-related cardiovascular disease. While 11% of all adult cardiovascular deaths worldwide were attributable to smoking. [2]

Smoking cigarettes also increases the risk of non-fatal heart attack, with the risk increased most in younger smokers. Smokers aged 30-39 years are around six times more at risk of non-fatal heart attack compared to non-smokers and smokers aged 70-79 years have around twice the risk.[3]

The 2004 INTERHEART study [4] estimated that 29% of heart attacks in Western Europe are due to smoking, and that smokers and former smokers are at almost twice the risk of heart attack, compared to people who have never smoked.

Reducing the immense but preventable human and financial costs demands policies that will help smokers to quit, and prevent others, particularly children, from starting a life-threatening addiction.

References

  1. Statistics on Smoking, England 2006. NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care 
  2. Peto R, Lopez A et al. Mortality from Smoking in Developed Countries 1950-2000.
  3. British Heart Foundation Statistics website
  4. INTERHEART Study Investigations 2004. Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries.

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