Research On The Economic Burden Of Disease Attributable To Smoking In China

Objects:There are two objectives of this study:one is to use Epidemiological approach measuring the economic burden of diseases attributable to smoking in China in 2011,2013 and 2015,and analyze cost trends;another one is to explored the application of the All-causes approach in estimating the direct economic burden attributable to smoking,and the estimated results of the two approaches were compared.Finally,This study make a comprehensive evaluation of social economic losses caused by smoking in order to provide scientific data and decision-making basis for the formulation and effective implementation of tobacco control regulations and policies.Methods:The Smoking-attributable fraction(SAF^EP),direct and indirect economic burdens were calculated by mathematical formulas in the Epidemiological approach.The Smoking-attributable fraction(SAF^EC)and the direct economic burden were calculated by econometric models in the All-causes approach.The main data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study?CHARLS?from 2011 to 2015,and the subjects were people aged 45 and above.Results:According to the Epidemiological approach,the total economic cost of smoking in China amounted to?203.50 billion,?252.50 billion and?287.64 billion in 2011,2013 and 2015,accounting for 27.03%,26.41%and 25.14%of the tax benefits of tobacco,and 0.43%,0.45%and 0.42%of the GDP,respectively.Direct economic burden of diseases attributable to smoking was?50.66 billion,?93.73 billion and?129.38 billion,accounting for 2.09%,2.96%and 3.16%of the Total Health Expenditure?THE?,respectively.Indirect economic burden of smoking was?152.84billion,?158.77 billion and?158.26 billion,respectively;According to the All-causes approach,the three-year average SAF^ECC for China was 9.02%,and the average smoking-attributable medical cost was?200.92 billion,accounting for 6.22%of the three-year average THE,which is about twice of the estimated result of Epidemiological approach.In addition,the results of econometric model suggest that smoking has a positive impact on residents'medical treatment and expenses,and this effect is more significant in the quit smokers than that in the current smokers.Conclusion:Based on these findings,this study concluded:The economic loss brought by smoking to Chinese society should not be ignored,and tobacco control policies should be made carefully.Meanwhile,tobacco control strategies and measures should be implemented effectively;Smoking will increase the probability of medical treatment and medical expenses of residents,and compared with current smokers,such effects are more significant among the quit smokers.Due to the delay of the diseases caused by smoking,current smokers tend to ignore the harm of tobacco,the main cause of which is public's lack of awareness of health;By developing and promoting All-causes approach,we manage to apply a more comprehensive measure when estimated the direct economic burden attributable to smoking.