CHCHAPTER 4
Burden of Death, Disease and Disability
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Chapter 4

Burden of Death, Disease and Disability

When used as intended by the manufacturer, tobacco is the only legal product that kills up to two thirds of its regular users, currently killing more than 8 million people globally each year, including about 1.2 million non-smokers, who lose their lives due to exposure to secondhand smoke. All forms of tobacco are harmful, and there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco. As such, tobacco use is the biggest public health threat continues to be the world's single largest preventable cause of diseases, harming almost every organ of the body.

Given the current trends of the tobacco epidemic being exported from high-income countries to low-and middle-income countries, it is estimated that tobacco use will kill more than 8 million people annually by 2030, with 80% of these premature deaths in low-and middle-income countries. In the ASEAN region, tobacco already causes more than half a million deaths every year.

Tobacco also imposes a heavy economic burden on society and government through increased health care costs and human productivity losses. The economic and societal costs of tobacco-related diseases are staggering and cost an estimated USD 1.4 trillion annual expenditure in tobacco-related healthcare costs and in lost productivity due to illnesses and early deaths. Forty percent (40%) of the global cost of smoking occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Most ASEAN governments already spend significant amounts of their budgets for direct and indirect tobacco-related health care costs that are many times higher than revenue gained from tobacco.

Tobacco is a key risk factor for many noncommunicable diseases and reduction in tobacco use is critical to reducing the NCDs burden, which account for 71% (41 million people) of deaths globally, including 15 million people aged between 30 and 69 years.

Annual deaths attributed to major tobacco-related diseases in ASEAN

Annual deaths attributed to major tobacco-related diseases in ASEANClick to enlarge

Tobacco - Global agent of death

Tobacco - Global agent of death
Tobacco - Global agent of death

Tobacco will kill 1 Billion people in the 21st century. About half of these deaths will occur before 70 years of age.

Tobacco use killed about 100 million people worldwide in the 20th century, and remains a serious and growing concern that it will claim an estimated 1 billion or more lives in the 21st century unless urgent action is taken.

quick fact box

On the basis of current consumption patterns, approximately 450 million adults will be killed by smoking between 2000 and 2050. At least half of these adults will die between 30 and 69 years of age, losing decades of productive life.

Global leading causes of death and disability

Global leading causes of death and disability
Global leading causes of death and disability
quick fact box

At the global level, 7 of the top 10 causes of death in 2019 are non-communicable diseases. There were 55.4 million deaths and 2.5 billion healthy years of life lost worldwide. Ischaemic heart disease caused the most deaths and was responsible for 16% of total deaths. Since 2000, it has seen the largest increase in deaths, rising by more than 2 million to nearly 9 million deaths in 2019.

Today's tobacco users will make up the majority of future tobacco-related deaths, which will disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries.

450 million adults will be killed by smoking

Risks associated with the highest number of deaths worldwide for both sexes combined, all ages, in 2019

Risks associated with the highest number of deaths worldwide for both sexes combined, all ages, in 2019
Risks associated with the highest number of deaths worldwide for both sexes combined, all ages, in 2019

Leading causes of DALYs* or health loss globally for both sexes combined, all ages, in 2019

Leading causes of DALYs* or health loss globally for both sexes combined, all ages, in 2019
Leading causes of DALYs* or health loss globally for both sexes combined, all ages, in 2019
quick fact box

Several of the risk factors and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, are associated with increased risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19.

Tobacco use is a leading common risk factor for non-communicable diseases.

41 million people kill each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally, including 15 million people aged between 30 and 69 years.

Direct and indirect tobacco-related health care costs in ASEAN

Direct and indirect tobacco-related health care costs in ASEAN
Direct and indirect tobacco-related health care costs in ASEAN

Global economic cost and health burden of tobacco use

Global economic cost and health burden of tobacco use
Global economic cost and health burden of tobacco use
quick fact box

Global annual costs from tobacco use are USD 1.4 trillion in healthcare expenditure and lost productivity from illness and premature death.

40% of the USD 1.436 trillion global cost of smoking occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

Global annual costs from tobacco use are USD 1.4 trillion