More than 7 million people died from tobacco-related causes in 2023, according to a new study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. The findings, presented at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, show that tobacco exposure remains the leading risk factor for death among men, accounting for 5.59 million deaths, while ranking seventh for women with 1.77 million deaths.
While the UK has seen a 45% decline in tobacco-attributed deaths since 1990, the global rate has risen by 24.4%. Some countries have experienced dramatic increases, with Egypt recording a 124.3% rise in deaths compared to 1990. The study, based on data from the Global Burden of Disease study, estimates that tobacco contributes to approximately one in eight deaths worldwide.
Brooks Morgan, a researcher at IHME, said: 'Tobacco exposure is one of the most significant risk factors identified in the Global Burden of Disease study 2023. While some countries are seeing encouraging declines in tobacco-related deaths, others are heading in the opposite direction. These trends highlight the urgent need for accelerated implementation and stronger enforcement of strategies proven to reduce tobacco use.'
Separate research from the Institute of Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS) in Argentina examined tobacco's impact in Bolivia, Honduras, Nigeria, Paraguay and Uruguay. It found that tobacco caused over 41,000 deaths in these five low- and middle-income countries and cost nearly $4.3 billion in medical expenses, lost productivity and informal caregiving. Natalia Espínola, a health economics coordinator at IECS, said the total was equivalent to about 1% of the countries' combined GDP.
Cassandra Kelly-Cirino, executive director of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, said: 'The research showcased today at the World Conference on Tobacco Control is a powerful reminder that tobacco remains one of the most devastating public health threats of our time. There is no such thing as a healthy tobacco product, and reduced risk all too often just means increased profit for industry. We must take a zero-tolerance approach.'
A World Health Organization report urged countries to strengthen efforts against tobacco and newer nicotine products like vapes, including raising taxes and requiring graphic warnings. WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said progress in tobacco control was fragile, noting that the tobacco industry continues to evolve, pushing new products and targeting youth. Higher taxes on tobacco could help fill health funding gaps caused by drops in overseas aid, he suggested.
