Death and disease facts

  • The high prevalence of smoking in Scotland means that the incidence of smoking-related cancers is particularly high in this country. Lung cancer incidence rates in males range from 57 per 100,000 in England to 78 per 100,000 in Scotland, and in females from 37 per 100,000 in England to 58 per 100,000 in Scotland.
    UK CancerStats report: Incidence 2008 - UK (April 2011), Cancer Research UK
    [Accessed 03 May 2011]
  • In Scotland in 2008 there were 13,321 tobacco-attributable deaths
    (Male: 6097, Female: 7224). 23% of all male deaths, 25% of all female deaths. 90% of lung cancer deaths in men aged 35+, 89% of lung cancer deaths in women aged 35+
    Source: Boreham J. Male and female smoking-attributed deaths and total deaths, Scotland: 1995, 2008. Oxford: CTSU. 2010.
  • In Scotland in 2004 an estimated 13,473 deaths in Scotland were attributed to smoking, which equated to 24% of all deaths.
    Source: An Atlas of Tobacco Smoking in Scotland: a report presenting estimated smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths within Scotland. NHS Health Scotland & ASH Scotland, 2007. Available fromThe Scottish Public Health Observatory[accessed 1st February 2008]
  • Smoking is the most important cause of premature death in developed countries. It accounts for one fifth of deaths in the UK: some 120,000 deaths a year.
    Source: Department of Health. 1998. Report of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health. London: The Stationery Office.
  • In Scotland over 13,000 people die every year from tobacco use.
    Source: Callum C. 1998. The UK smoking epidemic: deaths in 1995. London: The Health Education Authority
  • The avoidance of smoking would eliminate one third of the cancer deaths in Britain and one sixth of the deaths from other causes.
    Source: Department of Health.1998. Report of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health. [online] London: The Stationery Office. Available from: http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/doh/tobacco/report.htm [accessed 15 April 2005]
  • One in two regular long-term smokers will die early from a disease related to smoking.
    Source: Peto, Lopez et-al. 1994. Mortality from smoking in developed countries 1950-2000. Oxford: Oxford University Press

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