1. How does CDC define a smoking-attributable death?
For adults, CDC calculates smoking-attributable fractions (SAFs) for deaths from 19 smoking-related diseases. The SAFs are determined by using gender-specific smoking prevalence and data on the relative risks for death for current and former smokers for specific health conditions. Infant mortality SAFs are calculated using estimates of maternal smoking prevalence and relative risk for death for four perinatal conditions caused by smoking.
Additional details on CDC’s SAM calculation methods and data sources are available under Methodology on the Web-based application of the Smoking-Attributable Morbidity, Mortality, and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) software, which is available on the Smoking & Tobacco Use Web site.
Resources:
CDC
2. Where can I find data on tobacco-related morbidity and mortality?
The Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity, and Economic Costs (SAMMEC) application, located on the Smoking And Tobacco Use Web site, estimates the number of premature deaths and the years of potential life lost (YPLL) as a result of smoking among adults aged 35 years and older. The SAMMEC application also estimates premature death and YPLL among infants as a result of maternal cigarette smoking.
Currently, the "Reports" feature in the SAMMEC application provides the following data (United States-1997-2001 and 2000-2004) by disease:
- Average annual smoking-attributable mortality
- Average annual age-adjusted smoking-attributable mortality rate per 100,000
SAMMEC also can be used to estimate the disease impact of smoking in individual states and in other large populations. Users can edit all data elements except the relative risks of death from smoking.
The CDC Smoking & Tobacco Use Web site also offers data, research, and reports on tobacco use-related morbidity and mortality in the United States.
Resources:
3. How prevalent is tobacco use in the United States?
Data from state and national surveys consistently show that although tobacco use in the United States has declined substantially since the mid-1990s, it still far exceeds the 2010 national objectives. In 2007, an estimated 19.7% of adults and 20.0% of high school students were current smokers.
Early data based on the 2008 National Health Interview Survey estimates that 20.5% of adults aged 18 years and over were current smokers, which is slightly higher than the annual rate in 2007.
Resources:
CDC, National Center for Health Statistics
CDC Smoking & Tobacco Use Web Site: Adult Data CDC Smoking & Tobacco Use Web Site: Youth and Young Adult Data
CDC Smoking & Tobacco Use Web Site: State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation (STATE) System
4. How can I find historical data on tobacco use?
A 1955 Current Population Survey (CPS) was the first nationally representative survey on smoking prevalence.
These data are presented in Women and Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General." (See figure 2.1 on page 27.)
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report article, "Surveillance for Selected Tobacco-Use Behaviors—United States, 1900-1994," presents yearly total and per capital consumption.
The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) provides data on smoking prevalence since 1965.
Individuals who are addressing tobacco use in previous decades also may want to refer to the text and references in the Surgeon General's reports addressing smoking and tobacco use.
Also, the National Institute on Drug Abuse provides data on cigarette use among American secondary school students from the mid-1970s forward. These data are available in Monitoring the Future: National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975 through 2004.
Resources:
CDC & National Institute on Drug Abuse
Surveillance for Selected Tobacco-Use Behaviors -- United States, 1900 CDC Smoking & Tobacco Use Web Site: Surgeon General's Reports on Smoking and Tobacco Use Monitoring the Future - National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975-2005. Volumes I & II