Reasons for smoking cigarettes 351,000 deaths per year in eight countries Latin Americain addition to requiring the cost of almost $50,000 million annually associated with the treatment of diseases caused by smoking, according to a study published this Monday.

Research conducted by the Institute Clinical and health effectiveness (IEKS), in Buenos Airesin cooperation with research centers, universities and government agencies from different countries, was held in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador And Chilecountries representing 80% population Latin America And caribbean.

According to the study, 351,000 deaths per year refer to smoking in the eight countries that represent 12.4% of all deaths among adults over 35 years.

In addition, the research team determined that smoking causes 2.2 million cases of illness per year, including 130,000 cases of cancer And 899,000 cardiovascular events.

“Despite the fact that in recent decades there has been a relative decrease in the proportion of people who smoke, smoking continues to be an epidemic that makes people sick and kills. In fact, almost 1,000 people die from this cause every day in our region. We cannot remain with our arms crossed,” IECS CEO Andrés Pichon-Rivier warned.

MILLIONAIRE COSTS

The study also found that in the eight countries included in the study, the costs that smoking poses to health systems and the economy, including direct health care costs due to the diseases it causes, reduced productivity and family care, are $49.8 billion.

One of the components is the direct costs of $22.8 billion in medical care for diseases caused by cigarettes, which implies that even 1 out of 10 dollars health funds in national budgets are earmarked for mitigating the effects of smoking.

According to the study, the region’s total annual spending is more than ten times the national average for tobacco taxes.

According to the researchers, if this tax were raised and other measures were taken to prevent tobacco use, such as a smoking ban, it could be avoided by about 10% in the next 10 years. 300,000 deaths and crash $90,000 million smoking-related costs.

(EFE)