May 2021
CIGARETTES CAUSE MORE THAN 960 DEATHS DAILY IN LATIN AMERICA
A STUDY CONDUCTED IN 8 COUNTRIES OF THE REGION BY THE INSTITUTE OF CLINICAL AND HEALTH EFFECTIVENESS (IECS), IN BUENOS AIRES, DETERMINED THAT TOMOKING NOT ONLY DAMAGES HEALTH BUT ALSO HAS A STRONG ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COST THAT DOES NOT COMPENSATE THE COLLECTION TOBACCO TAXES.
Cigarette consumption causes more than 960 deaths per day in Latin America, in addition to millions of sick people annually and economic and social costs that are not offset by the collection of taxes on tobacco products.
This is revealed by a study led by the Institute of Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS), in Buenos Aires, and in which more than 40 researchers and health decision-makers from the eight countries surveyed collaborated: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. The data were obtained using a mathematical model that allows us to estimate the probabilities that people have of getting sick or dying from the main health conditions associated with smoking.
“Smoking is a major public health problem and to address it efficiently with public policies it is necessary to have evidence that quantifies its impact,” explains the Dr. Andrés Pichon-Riviere, executive director of the IECS, doctor of medicine and master of sciences and clinical epidemiology from Harvard University.
According to researchers, cigarettes cause 123 deaths per day in Argentina; 52 in Chile; 83 in Colombia; 443 in Brazil; 6 in Costa Rica; 19 in Ecuador; 173 in Mexico and 61 in Peru. This represents from 9% (Costa Rica) to 22% (Peru) of all deaths in people over 35 years of age.
But, in addition, millions of people get sick every year in the region from smoking or being exposed to the smoke emitted by others (passive smoking). In Argentina, for example, it causes more than 225.000 annual cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer, pneumonia, heart disease and stroke. In Brazil, there are more than 1.100.000; in Chile, more than 120.000; in Colombia, more than 164.000; in Costa Rica, more than 16.000; in Ecuador, more than 50.000; in Mexico, more than 429.000; and in Peru, more than 125.000.
The researchers also estimated that the cost of the damage of smoking on the health system and the economy, including the direct costs of medical care for the diseases it causes, lost work productivity and family care, which exceeds USD $46.346 million in the 8 countries considered.
In the different countries studied, Tax collection from cigarette taxes barely covers 5 to 30% of the total economic losses caused by smoking..
“In general, the price of cigarettes is low in Latin American countries and there is room to increase tobacco taxes. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that increasing the price of tobacco products through taxes is the best measure to deter their consumption and reduce their harmful impacts on society," says the economist Alfredo Palacios, coordinator of Health Economics at the IECS and lead author of the study.
Along these lines, the study projected that, in the 8 countries, increasing the price of cigarettes by 50% through taxes would have a total economic benefit in 10 years of USD $61.870 million and could prevent 278.721 deaths.
WHO DONE THE STUDY
The study was led by the IECS and had the collaboration of more than 40 researchers and political decision-makers from universities, research centers and public institutions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. The research project was funded by the International Development Research Center of Canada (IDRC) and the Institute of Cancer Research UK (ICR).
DATA BY COUNTRY
To access an infographic summary with data on the burden of disease attributable to smoking, its economic impact (in local currency) and projection of the effect of the increase in tobacco taxes for each of the countries, access to www.iecs.org.ar/tabaco and click on the “2020 infographic summary” options from the links indicated below:
ABOUT IECS: The IECS is an independent, non-profit academic institution dedicated to research, education and technical cooperation in health. Founded in 2002, it is an institution affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) that houses a CONICET executing unit, a WHO Collaborating center and a Cochrane Center. The mission of the IECS is “to contribute to improving global health, generating and promoting the application of the best scientific evidence.”
IECS PRESS CONTACT: Lic. Mariana Comolli, Coordinator of the Communication Unit.
Tel.: (011) 4777-8767 ext. 133. mcomolli@iecs.org.ar