More Delhiites are saying no to tobacco or trying to quit, reveals study

It seems that Delhiites are finally saying no to tobacco.

Citing the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2) for 2016-17, S. K. Arora, Additional Director (Health), Tobacco Control, said that the fact sheet for Delhi shows that the city is improving in terms of tobacco control.

The survey revealed that prevalence of tobacco use has reduced by 6.5% in Delhi as compared to the all-India average of 6%.

Prevalence of tobacco smokers has reduced by 6.1% in Delhi as compared to 3.3% across India. Similarly, the number of daily smokers have reduced by 8.6% in the city as compared to 2.1% across the country. Gutka users have also reduced by 5.2% in the city as compared to 1.4% across India.

Better than average

Data from GATS-1 (2009-10) and GATS-2 for Delhi, in comparison to India average, indicates a much better performance on tobacco-control activities in the city. “For cessation modalities also, Delhi has performed better and the number of smokers who made a quit attempt in the past 12 months increased by 33.3% compared to 0.1% India average,” said Dr. Arora.

Regarding passive smoking, adults exposed to tobacco smoke at work place reduced by 4% as compared to India average which increased by 0.3%. Similarly, adults exposed to tobacco smoke at home reduced by 23.3% as compared to 13.6% for India average.

Tobacco use is the single-largest preventable cause of disease, disability and premature death.The global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 60 lakh people each year, of which 9-10 lakh people die in India.

To protect people, specially minors and women group, from tobacco, various stringent measure have been taken by the city, including enforcing Delhi Prohibition of Smoking and Non Smokers Health Protection Act, 1996, and Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.

Cigarette smoking also increases the risk of coronary heart disease. In a study by Medanta, it was found that in around 70% of individuals below the age of 45 years who had suffered an acute heart attack, smoking was a major risk factor,” said R. R. Kasliwal, chairman, Division of Clinical and Preventive Cardiology, Medanta Heart Institute, Gurugram.

Taking a toll

“Passive smoking is as harmful as smoking. Second-hand smoke puts you at risk of respiratory diseases, cancer of the lungs, and heart issues among a number of other health problems,” said Bhavna Mukhopadhyay, chief executive, Voluntary Health Association of India.

A study supported by the Centre and the WHO titled Economic Burden of Tobacco Related Diseases in India, estimated the total cost of diseases attributable to tobacco use in 2011 was ₹1,04,500 crore — that is 12% more than the combined State and Central government expenditure on healthcare in the same year, or 1.6% of Indian GDP.

Cardiovascular diseases shared the highest burden, ₹3,600 crore, of direct medical and indirect morbidity costs on account of tobacco use.