Mortality, morbidity and costs attributable to smoking in Germany: update and a 10-year comparison

Neubauer, Simone; Welte, Robert; Beiche, Alexandra; Koenig, Hans-Helmut; Buesch, Katharina und Leidl, Reiner (15. Dezember 2006): Mortality, morbidity and costs attributable to smoking in Germany: update and a 10-year comparison. In: Tobacco Control, Bd. 15, Nr. 6: S. 464-471

Abstract

Objective: To assess the negative health consequences and associated costs of cigarette smoking in Germany in 2003 and to compare them with the respective results from 1993.

Methods: The number of deaths, years of potential life lost (YPLL), direct medical and indirect costs caused by active cigarette smoking in Germany in 2003 is estimated from a societal perspective. The method is similar to that applied by Welte et al, who estimated the cost of smoking in Germany in 1993. Therefore, a direct comparison of the results was possible. Methodological and data differences between these two publications and their effect on the results are analysed.

Results: In 2003, 114,647 deaths and 1.6 million YPLL were attributable to smoking. Total costs were euro21.0 billion, with euro7.5 billion for acute hospital care, inpatient rehabilitation care, ambulatory care and prescribed drugs; euro4.7 billion for the indirect costs of mortality; and euro8.8 billion for costs due to work loss days and early retirement. From 1993 to 2003, the proportionate mortality attributable to smoking remained relatively stable, rising from 13.0% to 13.4%. The smoking-attributable deaths in men is lowered by 13.7% whereas that in women increased by 45.3%. Total real direct costs rose by 35.8%, and total real indirect costs declined by 7.1%, rendering an increase of 4.7% to real total costs. Accountable factors are changes in cigarette smoking prevalence and in disease-specific mortality and morbidity, as well as a rise in general healthcare expenditure.

Conclusions: Despite the growing knowledge about the hazards of smoking, the smoking-attributable costs increased in Germany. Further, female mortality attributable to smoking is much higher than it was in 1993.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Betriebswirtschaft > Institut für Gesundheitsökonomie und Management im Gesundheitswesen
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft ; 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 0964-4563
• Sprache: Englisch