A dream story?
Researchers say banning the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to people born between 2006 and 2010 could prevent 1.2 million lung cancer deaths worldwide over 70 years. states.
“Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and an alarming two-thirds of deaths are related to smoking, which is one of the preventable risk factors,” said study author Santiago Santiago of Spain. said Julia Ray Brandaris of the University of De Compostela.
“Our modeling highlights the potential benefits for governments considering implementing ambitious plans for a tobacco-free generation,” Brandaris added. “This could not only save countless lives, but also significantly reduce the burden on health systems to treat and care for people whose health is compromised by smoking.”
Brandariz's first-of-its-kind simulation study — published Wednesday lancet public health — suggests that creating a tobacco-free mini-generation could prevent 40% of lung cancer deaths expected to occur in this group by 2095.
Researchers said they chose this group because the legal age to purchase tobacco products in most of the countries analyzed is 18, and its members currently range in age from 13 to 18. be.
Research shows that banning tobacco sales to these Gen Zers would have the biggest impact in Europe.
“Although smoking rates in high-income countries have declined in recent years, lung cancer remains a leading cause of death and disease,” said study author Isabel Soerjomataram of the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
“In low- and middle-income countries, where young populations are growing rapidly, the impact of tobacco sales bans could be even greater,” Soeljomataram continued.
However, nurse practitioner Jennifer Stevens said, Northwell Health Center Tobacco Control CenterHe expressed doubts about the possibility of this proposal becoming a reality.
“There is no question that preventing and eliminating cigarette sales would increase mortality and reduce health care costs around the world,” said Stevens, who was not involved in the new study. he told the Post. “But for decades, lawmakers have been trying to take on tobacco companies, with some success, but not completely.”
Stevens said the focus should continue to be on enforcement, continuation and enforcement of policies banning smoking in public places, as well as educational programs that highlight the dangers and long-term effects of smoking, especially on young people. said.
The new research includes another study A paper published Wednesday in the journal Lancet Public Health shows that reducing smoking prevalence worldwide to 5% from current levels by 2050 would increase life expectancy for men by 1 year and for women by 0.2 years. are.
An international research team predicts that the average life expectancy worldwide will increase from 73.6 years in 2022 to 78.3 years in 2050.
Adjusting for age, it is estimated that 21% of men and 4% of women will smoke in 2050, with considerable regional variation.
The study authors say that if smoking was completely abolished last year, life expectancy could increase by an additional 1.5 years for men and 0.4 years for women by 2050.
Smoking is considered the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing approximately 1 in 5 deaths each year. According to the American Cancer Society.
In addition to lung cancer, smoking significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Researchers said the two modeling studies had various limitations, including not taking into account the potential health effects of e-cigarettes and potential medical innovations such as improved lung cancer detection and treatment. he pointed out.
