Estimated Worldwide Mortality Attributed to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure, 1990-2016

Source:

Yousuf H, Hofstra M, Tijssen J, et al. Estimated Worldwide Mortality Attributed to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure, 1990-2016. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(3):e201177. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.1177

Key Points

Question  How many individuals who smoke are associated with the death of 1 individual who does not smoke but was exposed to secondhand smoke?

Findings  This cross-sectional epidemiologic assessment used Our World in Data to calculate how many individuals who smoked for a mean of 24 years were associated with the death of 1 individual who died of exposure to secondhand smoke; globally, this changed from 31.3 individuals who smoked in 1990 to 52.3 individuals who smoked in 2016.

Meaning  The findings of this study could help policy makers better understand the scale of harm associated with secondhand smoke and improve awareness in the general public.