[Estimation of the impact of cigarette smoking reduction on mortality from tumors of the lung and larynx]

Abstract

In 1987, in Italy, 27,106 men and 4,159 women died from lung cancer or larynx cancer. Taking into consideration the smoking habits of the Italian population and the relative risks for pulmonary cancer, of smokers and ex-smokers versus nerve smokers, we estimate that 87% of deaths can be attributed to smoking. We know from previous studies that quitting smoking results in the reduction of the risk elapsed since quitting and that this reduction depends on the time and on the quantity of tobacco previously smoked before the cessation. We estimated the reduction in the number of deaths due to respiratory cancer if part of the population were to quit smoking. In males aged 35-74 years after 12 years, there would be 3,604 fewer deaths if 10% quit smoking and 11,915 fewer deaths if 100% quit smoking.