Almost 4,000 deaths prevented due to workplace smoking ban
Most of the lives saved since March 2004 are those of non-smokers who would have died from the effects of passive smoking.
The study shows 3,726 smoking-related deaths have been prevented since the introduction of the workplace smoking ban by then health minister Micheál Martin.
The results are published this week in the American online scientific journal, Plos One.
The study involved researchers from Brunel University in London, the Environmental Health Sciences Institute, Dublin Institute of Technology, and The Tobacco Free Research Institute Ireland.
Luke Clancy, director of TFRI and a member of the research team, said that since Ireland became the first country in the world to implement a national workplace smoking ban, it was important to establish that there are significant health benefits.
“Previous studies have shown decreases in cardiovascular mortality following the implementation of comprehensive smoking bans,” said Prof Clancy. “Our study shows that mortality decreases were primarily due to reductions in passive smoking, rather than a reduction in active smoking, and we remember that this [protection from passive smoke] was the basis for the introduction of the 2004 legislation.”
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the ban on all-cause and cause-specific non-trauma mortality. Following ban implementation, there was an immediate 13% fall in all-cause mortality.
“The study now shows a 26% reduction in heart disease [schemic heart disease, IHD], a 32% reduction in stroke, and a 38% reduction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] mortality,” said Prof Clancy.
“Post-ban significant reductions in IHD, stroke, and COPD mortalities were seen in age groups 65 years and older. COPD mortality reductions were found particularly in females.
“Unadjusted estimates indicate that 3,726 smoking-related deaths were likely prevented post-ban.”
Prof Clancy also said the national smoking ban was associated with immediate reductions in early mortality. “Importantly, post-ban risk differences did not change with a longer follow-up period,” he said.
“This study corroborates previous evidence for cardiovascular causes, and is the first study to demonstrate reductions in stroke and respiratory causes.”
