Burden of disease from second-hand smoke exposure in New Zealand

AIM: To estimate the number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to second-hand smoke in New Zealand. METHOD: Comparative risk assessment methods were used to estimate the attributable burden from secondhand smoke in children and nonsmoking adults in New Zealand. Disease outcomes included were: ischaemic heart disease; stroke and lung cancer in adults; asthma; lower respiratory infections; otitis media; sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI); and low birthweight at term in children. Mortality data from 20092011 and DALY data from 2006 were used. RESULTS: In New Zealand, secondhand smoke was estimated to have caused 104 deaths (plausible range: 66137) in 2010, and led to the loss of 2,286 healthy years of life (DALYs) (1,4653,177) in 2006. The main conditions accounting for this health burden were ischaemic heart disease and stroke in older adults. Children accounted for 34% of the attributable health loss in 2006, particularly due to SUDI. Maori experienced five times the health loss of nonMaori, after standardising for age differences. CONCLUSION: Secondhand smoke continues to cause substantial health loss in New Zealand, and disproportionately affects children and Maori. Substantial health gains can be made by reducing exposure to secondhand smoke in New Zealand.