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February 21st, 2011:

Economic costs attributable to smoking in China: update and an 8-year comparison, 2000e2008

ABSTRACT
Objective To estimate the health-related economic costs
attributable to smoking in China for persons aged 35 and
older in 2003 and in 2008 and to compare these costs
with the respective results from 2000.
Methods A prevalence-based, disease-specific
approach was used to estimate smoking-attributable
direct and indirect economic costs. The primary data
source was the 2003 and 2008 China National Health
Services Survey, which contains individual participant’s
smoking status, healthcare use and expenditures.
Results The total economic cost of smoking in China
amounted to $17.1 billion in 2003 and $28.9 billion in
2008 (both measured in 2008 constant US$). Direct
smoking-attributable healthcare costs in 2003 and 2008
were $4.2 billion and $6.2 billion, respectively. Indirect
economic costs in 2003 and 2008 were $12.9 billion and
$22.7 billion, respectively. Compared to 2000, the direct
costs of smoking rose by 72% in 2003 and 154% in
2008, while the indirect costs of smoking rose by 170%
in 2003 and 376% in 2008.
Conclusions The economic burden of cigarette smoking
has increased substantially in China during the past
decade and is expected to continue to increase as the
national economy and the price of healthcare services
grow. Stronger intervention measures against smoking
should be taken without delay to reduce the health and
financial losses caused by smoking.

ABSTRACTObjective To estimate the health-related economic costsattributable to smoking in China for persons aged 35 andolder in 2003 and in 2008 and to compare these costswith the respective results from 2000.Methods A prevalence-based, disease-specificapproach was used to estimate smoking-attributabledirect and indirect economic costs. The primary datasource was the 2003 and 2008 China National HealthServices Survey, which contains individual participant’ssmoking status, healthcare use and expenditures.Results The total economic cost of smoking in Chinaamounted to $17.1 billion in 2003 and $28.9 billion in2008 (both measured in 2008 constant US$). Directsmoking-attributable healthcare costs in 2003 and 2008were $4.2 billion and $6.2 billion, respectively. Indirecteconomic costs in 2003 and 2008 were $12.9 billion and$22.7 billion, respectively. Compared to 2000, the directcosts of smoking rose by 72% in 2003 and 154% in2008, while the indirect costs of smoking rose by 170%in 2003 and 376% in 2008.Conclusions The economic burden of cigarette smokinghas increased substantially in China during the pastdecade and is expected to continue to increase as thenational economy and the price of healthcare servicesgrow. Stronger intervention measures against smokingshould be taken without delay to reduce the health andfinancial losses caused by smoking.

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/20/4/266.full.html

Download PDF : China Economic costs 2000-08. TC 11 07