The study led by researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and global collaborators published in The Lancet Public Health journal suggests that creating a generation of people who never smoke could prevent 1.2 million deaths from lung cancer globally. This simulation study, the first of its kind, indicates that banning the purchase of cigarettes and other tobacco products among people born between 2006 and 2010 could have a significant impact on reducing lung cancer deaths in 185 countries by 2095.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide and the biggest risk factor for lung cancer, responsible for more than two-thirds of the 1.8 million deaths from the disease each year. The study highlights the potential benefits of creating a tobacco-free generation in reducing the impact of smoking on future generations and preventing a large number of deaths.
The analysis predicts that eliminating smoking among people born between 2006 and 2010 could prevent 1.2 million lung cancer deaths globally, representing 40.2% of the total expected deaths in that birth cohort by 2095. The impact would be significant, with almost half of expected lung cancer deaths among men and close to one-third among women being prevented.
The study also highlights the potential impact on different regions, with the greatest number of potential deaths averted among men in upper-middle-income countries and among women in high-income countries. Overall, most of the potential prevented deaths would occur in low- and middle-income countries, emphasizing the importance of tobacco control efforts in these regions.
While the study has some limitations, such as not accounting for all factors affecting implementation and limited data in some regions, it provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of eliminating smoking among specific age groups or generations. The findings underscore the importance of continued efforts to reduce smoking rates globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the impact of tobacco control measures could be significant.
For more information on the study and its findings, you can refer to the original article published in The Lancet Public Health journal.
