Multi- country study of tobacco use highlights critical need for effective tobacco control policies

In a study published in The Lancet, researchers compared data on tobacco use in 14 low- and middle-income countries, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States, finding alarmingly high rates of use and large variations in use patterns.

Key Findings

·         Out of about 3 billion people living in the US, UK and 14 GATS countries, approximately 852 million use tobacco.   48.6% of men and 11.3% of women use tobacco.

·         China has the most cigarette smokers in the world (over 300 million).  Over half of men smoke.

·         Russia has the highest rate of smoking among men in the world; 60.2% of Russian men smoke.

·         India has the most smokeless tobacco users in the world (206 million). 25.3% of Indians use smokeless tobacco. 

·         Bangladesh has the highest smokeless tobacco rate in the world and the highest rate among women; 27.9% of Bangladeshis use smokeless tobacco.

·         In most GATS countries, women are starting to smoke at younger ages, approaching the young ages at which men begin. 

·         Quit rates are low in most GATS countries. Countries with high quit rates such as Brazil and Uruguay have implemented effective tobacco control policies.

Key Messages

·         6 million people die from tobacco-related causes each year.  Unless effective tobacco control measures are fully implemented, the burden of tobacco-related disease will increase greatly, especially in low-and middle-income countries.

·         Countries must fully implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to prevent initiation and promote cessation of tobacco use and protect non-smokers.  Smoke-free environments, warning labels on tobacco packs, increased tobacco taxes and advertising, promotion and sponsorship bans are essential to save lives in low and middle-income countries.

Data on tobacco use for the 14 low- and middle-income countries came from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), a national survey of adults 15 years and older conducted in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay and Vietnam between October 2008 and March 2010.  Data for the US and UK came from national surveys conducted in 2008(UK) and 2006-07(US). 

Full Citation: Giovino GA, Mirza SA, Samet JM, et al, for The GATS Collaborative Group. Tobacco use in 3 billion individuals from 16 countries: an analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional household surveys. Lancet 2012; 380: 668–79.

A link to the abstract [English only] can be found at: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61085-X/abstract

Additional Resources: For additional information about the global tobacco epidemic and solutions to fight it, visit: http://global.tobaccofreekids.org/en

The Lancet is one of the world's oldest and most respected general medical journals. For more than 180 years, it has served as an independent and authoritative voice in global medicine.

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Quit rates are low in most GATS countries. Countries with high quit rates such as Brazil and Uruguay have implemented effective tobacco control policies.