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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health
Tel: 1-800-CDC-INFO
(1-800-232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov
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Fact Sheet
Cigarette Smoking-Related Mortality
(updated September 2006)
Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of
premature death in the United States. Each year, more than 400,000 Americans die from
cigarette smoking. In fact, one in every five deaths in the United States is smoking
related. Every year, smoking kills more than 276,000 men and 142,000 women.1
- Between 1960 and 1990, deaths from lung cancer among women have increased by more than
400%—exceeding breast cancer deaths in the mid-1980s.2 The American Cancer Society
estimated that in 1994, 64,300 women died from lung cancer and 44,300 died from breast
cancer.3
- Men who smoke increase their risk of death from lung cancer by more than 22 times and from
bronchitis and emphysema by nearly 10 times. Women who smoke increase their risk of dying
from lung cancer by nearly 12 times and the risk of dying from bronchitis and emphysema by
more than 10 times. Smoking triples the risk of dying from heart disease among middle-aged
men and women.1
- Every year in the United States, premature deaths from smoking rob more than five million
years from the potential lifespan of those who have died.1
- Annually, exposure to secondhand smoke (or environmental tobacco smoke) causes an
estimated 3,000 deaths from lung cancer among American adults.4 Scientific studies also
link secondhand smoke with heart disease.
Cigarette Smoking-Related Mortality (United States, 2001)*
Disease |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Malignant Neoplasms |
Lip, Oral Cavity, Pharynx |
3,775 |
1,140 |
4,915 |
Esophagus |
6,887 |
1,624 |
8,511 |
Stomach |
1,949
|
567 |
2,516 |
Pancreas |
3,170
|
3,446 |
6,616 |
Larynx |
2,492
|
563 |
3,055 |
Trachea, Lung, Bronchus |
79,295
|
45,805 |
125,100 |
Cervix Uteri |
0
|
465 |
465 |
Kidney and Renal Pelvis |
2,877
|
211 |
3,088 |
Urinary Bladder |
3,889
|
1,040 |
4,929 |
Acute Myeloid Leukemia |
858 |
319 |
1,177 |
Subtotal |
105,192 |
55,180 |
160,372 |
Cardiovascular Diseases |
Ischemic Heart Disease |
52,201 |
29,878 |
82,079 |
Other Heart Disease |
13,110 |
7,815 |
20,925 |
Cerebrovascular Disease |
8,305 |
8,187 |
16,492 |
Atherosclerosis |
1,358 |
659 |
2,017 |
Aortic Aneurysm |
5,771 |
2,885 |
8,656 |
Other Arterial Disease |
558 |
776 |
1,334 |
Subtotal |
81,303 |
50,200 |
131,503 |
Respiratory Diseases |
Pneumonia, Influenza |
5,995 |
4,306 |
10,301 |
Bronchitis, Emphysema |
7,964 |
6,702 |
14,666 |
Chronic Airway Obstruction |
39,859 |
37,806 |
77,665 |
Subtotal |
53,818 |
48,814 |
102,632 |
Grand Total |
240,313 |
154,194 |
394,507 |
*In this table, deaths due to secondhand smoke and fire burn are not included. |
Source: CDC, Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity, and
Economic Costs (SAMMEC online report)
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cigarette Smoking-Attributable Mortality and Years of Potential Life Lost—United States, 1990.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report [serial online]. 1993;42(33):645–649 [cited 2006 Sep 23]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00021441.htm.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mortality Trends for Selected Smoking-Related Cancers and Breast Cancer—United States, 1950–1990.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report [serial online]. 1993;42(44):857,863–866 [cited 2006 Sep 23]. Availalble from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00022160.htm.
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures—1996.
Atlanta (GA): American Cancer Society, 1996 [cited 2006 Sep 23].
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders.
Washington (DC): U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of
Research and Development. EPA/600/6–90/006F. December 1992 [cited 2006 Sep 23]. Available from: http://www.epa.gov/smokefree/pubs/etsfs.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health
E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO
Media Inquiries: Contact CDC's Office on Smoking and Health press
line at 770-488-5493.
Page last reviewed 02/28/2007
Page last modified 02/28/2007