Comparison of mortality attributable to tobacco in selected Latin American countries

ACOSTA LAURA D.; MOLINATTI FLORENCIA; PELÁEZ ENRIQUE

Revista Población y Salud en Mesoamérica

Universidad de Costa Rica

Año: 2019 vol. 16

1659-0201

Abstract.Objective: To compare the mortality attributable to tobacco consumption inselected Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico) betweenthe years 2009 and 2013. Methods: In order to estimate the mortalityattributable to risk factors, the Comparative Risk Assessment (CRA) methodologywas used. Years of Life Expectancy Lost (YLEL) following the methodologyproposed by Arriaga was calculated. Secondary data from the national statisticsagency of each country were used. Results: The highest percentages of alldeaths due tobacco were observed among Argentine and Chilean men (14.4 and14.3% of the total deaths, respectively), followed by Mexicans (12.5% of thetotal deaths). Among women, the highest percentage was registered in Chile (8%of total deaths), followed by Mexico and Argentina (5.3, and 5.1% of totaldeaths, respectively). For both sexes, Brazil recorded the lowest percentages (5.4and 2.8% of the total deaths, for men and women). In terms of life expectancy,the most affected by mortality due to tobacco consumption were the men andwomen of Argentina, who lost 1.77 and 0.65 years of life expectancy,respectively, followed very closely by the Chilean men and women. Conclusions:Men and women of Argentina had the greatest loss of life expectancy due totobacco, and this is consistent with the incipient policy against tobaccoimplemented in that country. In contrast, in the other countries studied,tobacco control policies was implemented earlier. However, tobacco remains animportant cause of mortality in all these countries, despite the great effortsto reduce their use.