Attributable deaths from smoking in the last 100 years in India
The objective of this study is to estimate the number of premature deaths that can be attributable to cigarette and bidi manufactured and consumed over the last 100 years in India
Abstract
Tobacco use, and in particular smoking, is the largest cause of preventable death among adults in India, as it is globally. Bidi, an indigenous, leaf-rolled cigarette made from coarse sun-cured tobacco, tied with a coloured string at one end, is the dominant form among all smoked products. More than eight to ten bidis are consumed for every cigarette in India. We present mortality estimates from smoking cigarettes and bidis manufactured over the last 100 years in India. There are currently no estimates of mortality, over a period of time, in India that can be directly attributed to cigarettes/bidis manufactured in the country. The objective of this study is to estimate the number of premature deaths that can be attributable to cigarette and bidi manufactured and consumed over the last 100 years in India. Nearly 4.52 trillion cigarettes and 40.3 trillion bidis have been produced between 1910 and 2010, which are estimate d to be responsible for nearly 100 million premature deaths (in which bidis contributed 77 million deaths) in adult men of ≥35 years. Some of these deaths will occur up to the middle of this century. These estimates are derived from the most conservative datasets and yet present alarming mortality estimates. This communication calls for greater emphasis on epidemiological research and a review of existing tobacco control measures in India, which together need to inform measures needed for reducing tobacco use and restricting the proliferation of the tobacco industry.
Citation
Lal, P. G; Wilson, N..C.; Gupta, P.C. Attributable deaths from smoking in the last 100 years in India. Current Science (2012) 103 (9) 1085-1090.
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Attributable deaths from smoking in the last 100 years in India