Medical expenses for smoking higher than expected

Follow-up costs of tobacco consumption exceed the previous estimates significantly

07/25/2013

Smoking causes significantly higher medical expenses than previously thought, according to a recent study by scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München. The first population-based calculation of the economic costs of cigarette consumption has one „significant correction of supply costs upwards“ result, reports the Helmholtz Zentrum. The results of the current cross-sectional study have the researchers in the journal „BMC Health Services Research“ released.

The evaluation of the medical expenses of tobacco consumption has shown that the health care and the loss of work of smokers cause 24 percent more costs compared to non-smokers, according to the report of the Helmholtz Zentrum in Munich. In the case of former smokers, who also stopped smoking due to illness, costs were even 35 percent higher. „For smokers, additional costs of more than 700 euros could be charged for the year 2008, per former smoker of 1,100 euros“, reports the Helmholtz Zentrum. The economic costs of smoking are thus significantly higher than previously assumed.

More accurate measurement approach shows higher healthcare costs of smoking
According to the scientists, the reason for the large difference between earlier estimates of smoking costs and current outcomes is „a more accurate measurement approach.“ So be in previous calculations „not all the health consequences that cigarette smoking can have“ been taken into account. By first inclusion of the so-called „KORA study that has been researching the effects of genes, environmental factors and behavior on human health for over 20 years“, The costs for the loss of work and for medical care could now also be included, reports the Helmholtz Zentrum in Munich.

30 percent of Germans are smokers
The head of the Institute for Health Economics and Management in Health Care at Helmholtz Zentrum München, Professor Reiner Leidl, emphasized that „Smoking one of the biggest preventable health risks“ be and „the accurate estimation of medical expenses is an essential basis of efficient prevention“ fancy. In fact, the higher cost of care assessment could also justify more expensive prevention campaigns. „Successful prevention can avoid a higher burden of disease and is thus more beneficial to society than previously thought“, report the experts of the Helmholtz Center. To date, according to the researchers smoke about 30 percent of the German population.

Smoking as a risk factor for many diseases
A consideration of the diseases in which smoking is recognized as a risk factor, quickly makes it clear why tobacco consumption is associated with such high economic costs. The uptake of tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide and other pollutants through the lungs leads to increased cancers in the pharynx and larynx, esophagus and lungs. It also increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, kidney cancer and bladder cancer. In addition, severe respiratory symptoms such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or smoker's cough (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD).

Hard to estimate follow-up costs of smoking
Furthermore, when smoking the cardiovascular system is affected. Consequence, for example, the coronary heart disease and associated with a significantly increased risk of heart attack. Tobacco use is also regarded as a significant risk factor for a stroke. In addition, there is the so-called smoker, which is caused by a closure of the blood vessels in the leg. Also, smokers are more susceptible to an aneurysm (blood vessel oozing). In addition to the immediate respiratory problems and cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases such as diabetes are also associated with smoking. In addition, the immune system is weakened by tobacco use and smokers are therefore more susceptible to infectious diseases. Many other diseases are related to smoking and passive smoking should also be taken into account when assessing the health consequences. However, the above list of possible complaints is sufficient to make it clear that smoking is associated with significant medical costs for society. Here it can only be assumed that the current calculation does not cover the entire extent of the follow-up costs. (Fp)

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Picture credits: Marianne J.