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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Terrell W. Zollinger, DrPH1, Robert M. Saywell, PhDMPH1, Amanda D. Overgaard, MPH2, Angela M. Holloway, MHA3, and Sandra F. Cummings, MSW4. (1) School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Indiana University, 1110 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, 317-278-0307, tzolling@iupui.edu, (2) School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Indiana University, 1001 W. 10th Street, 4th Floor, Indianapolis, IN 46202, (3) Bowen Research Center, Indiana University, 1110 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, (4) Chronic Disease Program, Marion County Health Department, 3838 North Rural Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205
Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) is known to be a significant contributor to adult and childhood morbidity and mortality in the U.S. This study estimated the health costs of SHS exposure to residents of Marion County (Indianapolis), Indiana. Estimates of cases of SHS-related mortality and morbidity utilized national attributable risk data for diseases that have been linked to secondhand smoke exposure for both adults (cancer of the lung, nasal sinus and cervix, heart disease, stroke and asthma) and children (SIDS, RSV, otitis media, asthma, burns, low birth weight and perinatal deaths). Indiana hospital discharge and national outpatient cost data were used to estimate health care costs. Values for loss of life were obtained from federal agency reports. The county vital statistics provided the disease specific deaths and low birth weight deliveries. The overall cost of selected health care and premature loss of life attributed to SHS for Marion County was $56.2 million in 2000 -- $10.5 million in health care costs and $20.3 million in loss of life for children, and $6.2 million in health care costs and $19.2 million in loss of life for adults. The methods used in this study may be replicated in other counties to provide valuable information for policy makers to further educate the public about the health effects and costs of SHS; encourage employers to totally eliminate smoking on their premises; better enforce smoking bans in public areas and on business campuses; and, encourage smokers not to light up in shared areas.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Cost Issues, Tobacco
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.