Navigation, Contact Info, and Legend for the OSH Website
• View By Topic
• Quick Links
• About this Office
Contact Info
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
Legend
= Link to a PDF document
(Adobe Acrobat™ Reader needs to be installed on your computer in order to read PDF documents.)
Download the Reader
= Link to nonfederal Web site
Disclaimer on nonfederal Web sites
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs)
State-Specific Smoking-Attributable Mortality and Years of Potential Life LostUnited States, 20002004
January 23, 2009 / Vol. 58 / No. 2
MMWR Highlights
Tobacco Use
- This report presents state-specific average annual smoking-attributable mortality
and years of potential life lost estimates among adults aged > 35 years. The report compares 20002004
average annual smoking-attributable mortality rates per 100,000 with rates for 19961999.
- The analysis was based on data from CDC’s Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity and
Economic Costs (SAMMEC) system and shows that the median smoking-attributable mortality rate declined by
24.8 deaths per 100,000 from 1996–1999 (288 per 100,000) to 2000–2004 (263 per 100,000) and reflects progress
made in lowering smoking prevalence.
- Declines in overall smoking-attributable mortality rates occurred in 49 states and the
District of Columbia and reflects progress made in lowering smoking prevalence during the past 40 years.
- The average annual median estimate for years of potential life lost from 20002004 was
70,677 and ranged from 7,762 (Alaska) to 481,529 (California).
- Years of potential life lost estimates among males ranged from 4,586 (Alaska) to 288,823
California) and estimates among females ranged from 3,176 (Alaska) to 192,706 (California).
- The findings show a substantial variation in average annual smoking-attributable mortality
during 20002004 among the states (range: 492 [Alaska] to 36,687 [California]).
- The overall average annual smoking-attributable mortality rates per 100,000 were lowest in
Utah (138.3), Hawaii (167.6) and Minnesota (215.1) and highest in Kentucky (370.6), West Virginia (344.3)
and Nevada (343.7).
- For every state, the annual number of smoking deaths was higher among males than females.
- Among males, smoking-attributable mortality estimates ranged from 314 in Alaska to 21,407
in California.
- For females, smoking-attributable mortality estimates ranged from 178 in Alaska to 15,280
in California.
- Changes in smoking-attributable deaths per 100,000 during these two periods varied among
states: Nevada (-44.4), California (-37.8), and Virginia (-33.4), experienced the highest declines in
smoking-attributable mortality rates among adults. Only one state, Oklahoma, experienced an increase
(27 deaths per 100,000).
- Average annual smoking-attributable mortality rates overall decreased from 19961999
to 20002004 in all states except Oklahoma, and smoking-attributable mortality rates increased among
women in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kansas, South Dakota, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, Arkansas, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Louisiana and District of
Colombia.
- Burden of smoking-related deaths remains high and differences in the trends in
smoking-attributable mortality rates by sex indicate more progress has been made over time in reducing
the rate in men than in women. Between 19961999 and 20002004, rates declined in men in 49 states and
the District of Columbia, but declined in women in only 32 states.
- Fully implementing effective state comprehensive tobacco-control programs, as recommended by
CDC, can further reduce smoking prevalence and deaths caused by cigarette smoking in all states.
Page last modified 01/22/2009