Case for investment in tobacco cessation: a population-based analysis in low- and middle-income countries.

This study aimed to estimate the return on investments of three population-level tobacco cessation strategies and three pharmacological interventions. The analysis included 124 low- and middle-income countries, and assumed a 10-year investment period (2021-2030). The results indicate that all six cessation programmes could help about 152 million tobacco users quit and save 2.7 million lives during 2021-2030. If quitters were followed until 65 years of age, 16 million lives could be saved from quitting. The combined investment cost was estimated at 1.68 United States dollars (US$) per capita a year, or US$ 115 billion over the period 2021-2030, with Caribbean countries showing the lowest investment cost at US$ 0.50 per capita a year. Return on investments was estimated at 0.79 (at the end of 2030) and 7.50 if benefits were assessed by the time quitters reach the age of 65 years. Disaggregated results by country income level and region also showed a return on investments less than 1.0 in the short term and greater than 1.0 in the medium-to-long term. In all countries, population-level interventions were less expensive and yielded a return on investments greater than 1.0 in the short and long term, with investment cost estimated at US$ 0.21 per capita a year, or US$ 14.3 billion over 2021-2030. Pharmacological interventions were more expensive and became cost beneficial over a longer time. These results are likely conservative and provide support for a phased approach implementing population-level strategies first, where most countries would reach break-even before 2030.

Este estudio tenía como objetivo estimar el rendimiento de la inversión de tres estrategias para el abandono del tabaco dirigidas a la población y de tres intervenciones farmacológicas. El análisis incluyó a 124 países de ingreso bajo y mediano y consideró que el período de inversión era de 10 años (2021-2030). Los resultados muestran que los seis programas sobre el abandono del tabaco podrían ayudar a unos 152 millones de personas a dejar el tabaco y salvar 2,7 millones de vidas en el período 2021-2030. Si se siguiera a las personas que dejan el tabaco hasta que cumpliesen 65 años, el número de vidas que se podrían salvar sería de 16 millones. Se estimó que el costo combinado de la inversión era de 1,68 dólares estadounidenses (US$) per cápita al año, o US$ 115 billones durante el período 2021-2030, y que el costo de inversión más bajo se encontraba en los países del Caribe (US$ 0,50 per cápita al año). Se estimó que el rendimiento de la inversión era de 0,79 (a finales de 2030) y de 7,50 si se tenían en cuenta los beneficios que obtienen las personas que dejan el tabaco hasta que alcanzan los 65 años. Los resultados desglosados por nivel de ingresos de los países y región también mostraron que el rendimiento de la inversión era inferior a 1,0 a corto plazo y superior a 1,0 de mediano a largo plazo. En todos los países, las intervenciones dirigidas a la población fueron menos costosas y produjeron un rendimiento de la inversión superior a 1,0 a corto y largo plazo, con un costo de las inversiones estimado en US$ 0,21 per cápita al año, o US$ 14,3 billones durante el período 2021-2030. Las intervenciones farmacológicas fueron más costosas y solo fueron generaron beneficios en función de los costos a más largo plazo. Probablemente son unos resultados prudentes, pero sirven de base para adoptar un enfoque gradual en la aplicación de estrategias dirigidas a la población primero donde la mayoría de los países alcanzarían el punto de equilibrio antes del 2030.

Este estudo teve como objetivo estimar o retorno dos investimentos de três estratégias de cessação do tabagismo no nível populacional e de três intervenções farmacológicas. A análise incluiu 124 países de baixa e média renda e presumiu um período de investimento de 10 anos (2021-2030). Os resultados indicam que todos os seis programas de cessação poderiam ajudar cerca de 152 milhões de usuários de tabaco a parar de fumar e salvar 2,7 milhões de vidas entre 2021 e 2030. Se houvesse acompanhamento até os 65 anos de idade daqueles que parassem de fumar, 16 milhões de vidas poderiam ser salvas. O custo de investimento combinado foi estimado em 1,68 dólares americanos (US$) per capita por ano, ou US$ 115 bilhões no período 2021-2030, com os países do Caribe apresentando o menor custo de investimento, a US$ 0,50 per capita por ano. O retorno dos investimentos foi estimado em 0,79 (no fim de 2030) e 7,50 se os benefícios fossem avaliados até o momento em que aqueles que pararam de fumar chegassem aos 65 anos de idade. Os resultados desagregados por nível de renda nacional e por região também mostraram um retorno dos investimentos inferior a 1,0 no curto prazo e superior a 1,0 no médio e longo prazos. Em todos os países, as intervenções no nível populacional foram menos caras e renderam um retorno dos investimentos superior a 1,0 no curto e longo prazos, com um custo de investimento estimado em US$ 0,21 per capita por ano, ou US$ 14,3 bilhões entre 2021 e 2030. As intervenções farmacológicas foram mais caras e tiveram um bom custo-benefício durante um período mais longo. Estes resultados são provavelmente conservadores e servem de apoio para uma abordagem em fases que implemente primeiramente estratégias no nível populacional, onde a maioria dos países atingiria o ponto de equilíbrio antes de 2030.

Targeted Cancer Therapies.

Targeted cancer therapies involve chemotherapeutic agents that attack, directly or indirectly, a specific genetic biomarker found in a given cancer. Targeted oncology includes monoclonal antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and immunotherapy. For example, the monoclonal antibodies trastuzumab and pertuzumab target human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and are used when treating HER2-positive breast cancer. Although targeted oncology has improved survival by years for some incurable cancers such as metastatic breast and lung cancer, as few as 8% of patients with advanced cancer qualify for targeted oncology medications, and even fewer benefit. Other limitations include serious adverse events, illustrated by a 20% to 30% rate of heart attack, stroke, or peripheral vascular events among patients taking ponatinib, which is used in treating chronic myelogenous leukemia. Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy-related adverse effects such as hypothyroidism are common, and more severe adverse events such as colitis and pneumonitis can be fatal and require immediate intervention. Drug interactions with widely prescribed medications such as antacids and warfarin are common. Additionally, financial toxicities are a problem for patients with cancer who are using costly targeted therapies. Future directions for targeted oncology include tumor-agnostic drugs, which target a given mutation and could be used in treating cancers from multiple organ types. An overview of indications, mechanism of action, and toxicities of targeted cancer therapies is offered here.

Current Tobacco Smoking, Quit Attempts, and Knowledge About Smoking Risks Among Persons Aged ≥15 Years - Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 28 Countries, 2008-2016.

Each year, tobacco use causes approximately 7 million deaths worldwide, including approximately 6 million among tobacco users and an estimated 890,000 among nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke (1). Tobacco use is a leading preventable cause of disease globally and has been determined to cause adverse health outcomes such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and multiple types of cancer, including lung cancer (2-4). Approximately 80% of the world's 1.1 billion tobacco smokers reside in low- and middle-income countries (4). Some persons do not fully understand the health risks associated with tobacco smoking (5-9), and studies have indicated that increasing knowledge about the adverse health effects of smoking can contribute to decreases in smoking, increases in cessation attempts, and increases in successful cessation (3,7,10). CDC analyzed 2008-2016 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) data from 28 countries to assess tobacco smoking prevalence, quit attempts, and knowledge about tobacco smoking risks among persons aged ≥15 years. Across countries, the median prevalence of tobacco smoking was 22.5%, and a median of 42.5% of tobacco smokers had made a quit attempt in the preceding 12 months. The median prevalences of knowing that tobacco smoking causes stroke, heart attack, and lung cancer were 73.6%, 83.6%, and 95.2%, respectively. Implementation of proven tobacco control interventions, including strategies that increase knowledge about the health risks posed by tobacco use, might help to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related disease, including heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer (3-5).

Correlates of compliance with national comprehensive smoke-free laws.

OBJECTIVE: To explore correlates of high compliance with smoking bans in a cross-sectional data set from the 41 countries with national comprehensive smoke-free laws in 2014 and complete data on compliance and enforcement. METHODS: Outcome variable: compliance with a national comprehensive smoke-free law in each country was obtained for 2014 from the WHO global report on the global tobacco epidemic. Explanatory variables: legal enforcement requirements, penalties, infrastructure and strategy were obtained through a separate survey of governments. Also, country socioeconomic and demographic characteristics including the level of corruption control were included. ANALYSIS: an initial bivariate analysis determined the significance of each potentially relevant explanatory variable of high compliance. Differences in compliance were tested using the exact logistic regression. RESULTS: High compliance with the national comprehensive smoke-free law was associated with the involvement of the local jurisdictions in providing training and/or guidance for inspections (OR=10.3, 95% CI 1.7 to 117.7) and a perception of high corruption control efforts in the country (OR=7.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 85.8). DISCUSSION: The results show the importance of the depth of the enforcement infrastructure and effort represented by the degree to which the local government is involved in enforcement. They also show the significance of fighting corruption in the enforcement process, including the attempts of the tobacco industry to undermine the process, to achieve high levels of compliance with the law. The results point out to the need to invest minimal but essential enforcement resources given that national comprehensive smoke-free laws are self-enforcing in many but not all countries and sectors.

Unknown Causes of Death in Cancer Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Deaths from an unknown cause are difficult to adjudicate and oncologic studies of comparative effectiveness often demonstrate inconsistencies in incorporating these deaths and competing events (eg, heart disease and stroke) in their analyses. In this study, we identify cancer patients most at risk for death of an unknown cause. METHODS: This retrospective, population-based study used cancer registry data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (1992-2015). The absolute rate of unknown causes of death (COD) cases stratified by sex, marital status, race, treatment, and cancer site were calculated and a multivariable logistic regression model was applied to obtain adjusted odds ratios with 95% CIs. RESULTS: Out of 7,154,779 cancer patients across 22 cancer subtypes extracted from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results, 3,448,927 died during follow-up and 276,068 (7.4%) of these deaths were from unknown causes. Patients with an unknown COD had a shorter mean survival time compared with patients with known COD (36.3 vs 65.7 mo, P < 0.001). The contribution of unknown COD to total mortality was highest in patients with more indolent cancers (eg, prostate [12.7%], thyroid [12.3%], breast [10.7%]) and longer follow-up (eg, >5 to 10 y). One, 3, and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) calculations including unknown COD were significantly decreased compared with CSS estimates excluding cancer patients with unknown COD. CONCLUSION: Of the patients, 7.4% died of unknown causes during follow-up and the proportion of death was higher with longer follow-up and among more indolent cancers. The attribution of high percentages of unknown COD to cancer or non-cancer causes could impact population-based cancer registry studies or clinical trial outcomes with respect to measures involving CSS and mortality.

The role of smoking in COVID-19 progression: a comprehensive meta-analysis.

The association between current smoking and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) progression remains uncertain. We aim to provide up-to-date evidence of the role of cigarette smoking in COVID-19 hospitalisation, severity and mortality. On 23 February 2022 we conducted an umbrella review and a traditional systematic review via PubMed/Medline and Web of Science. We used random-effects meta-analyses to derive pooled odds ratios of COVID-19 outcomes for smokers in cohorts of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infected individuals or COVID-19 patients. We followed the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting guidelines. PROSPERO: CRD42020207003. 320 publications were included. The pooled odds ratio for current versus never or nonsmokers was 1.08 (95% CI 0.98-1.19; 37 studies) for hospitalisation, 1.34 (95% CI 1.22-1.48; 124 studies) for severity and 1.32 (95% CI 1.20-1.45; 119 studies) for mortality. Estimates for former versus never-smokers were 1.16 (95% CI 1.03-1.31; 22 studies), 1.41 (95% CI: 1.25-1.59; 44 studies) and 1.46 (95% CI 1.31-1.62; 44 studies), respectively. Estimates for ever- versus never-smokers were 1.16 (95% CI 1.05-1.27; 33 studies), 1.44 (95% CI 1.31-1.58; 110 studies) and 1.39 (95% CI 1.29-1.50; 109 studies), respectively. We found a 30-50% excess risk of COVID-19 progression for current and former smokers compared with never-smokers. Preventing serious COVID-19 outcomes, including death, seems the newest compelling argument against smoking.

New frontiers for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, affects over 2.5 million people in the USA and is responsible for one fifth of the 700,000 ischemic strokes per year. For the last 50 years, long-term anticoagulation with warfarin has been the most effective therapy for preventing stroke in patients with AF and other risk factors. However, many AF patients are poor candidates for this treatment, and management of the drug can be challenging. Such challenges include the need for frequent monitoring, interactions with food and other medications, variability in metabolism and a delayed onset of action. Antiplatelet therapy has also been evaluated, and though it is not as effective at preventing ischemic strokes, it may provide some benefit for patients who cannot tolerate warfarin. Recent clinical trials have tested pharmacologic alternatives to warfarin, and new treatment options have emerged. Of these alternatives, the direct oral thrombin inhibitor dabigatran and the oral factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban, which have minimal interactions and require no INR monitoring, have already been approved by the FDA. The field may soon be further expanded as the oral factor Xa inhibitor apixaban has shown promise in its recent phase 3 trial and is under consideration for FDA approval. Nonpharmacologic approaches to stroke prevention in AF are under development as well. These approaches focus on occlusion or ligation of the left atrial appendage, which is frequently the location of thrombus formation. While such procedures have been done often during other cardiac surgeries, newer methods have focused on percutaneous techniques, including ones that may not require anticoagulation afterwards. In addition, new diagnostic modalities may detect paroxysmal AF with more sensitivity, potentially expanding the population to be treated and the potential impact of stroke preventive strategies on the population. This review provides a practical guide to current treatment and diagnostic options and focuses on emerging therapies.

Increasing evidence for the efficacy of tobacco control mass media communication programming in low- and middle-income countries.

Antitobacco mass media campaigns have had good success at changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors with respect to smoking in high-income countries provided they are sustained. Mass media campaigns should be a critical component of tobacco control programs in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Mounting evidence shows that graphic campaigns and those that evoke negative emotions run over long periods of time have achieved the most influence. These types of campaigns are now being implemented in low- and middle-income countries. The authors provide 3 case studies of first-ever graphic warning mass media campaigns in China, India, and Russia, 3 priority high-burden countries in the global Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use. In each of these countries, message testing of core messages provided confidence in messages, and evaluations demonstrated message uptake. The authors argue that given the initial success of these campaigns, governments in low- and middle-income countries should consider resourcing and sustaining these interventions as key components of their tobacco control strategies and programs.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship in India and Indonesia: Present Regime and the Way Forward.

One of the important factors contributing to tobacco epidemic is tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS). TAPS is employed by tobacco industry to increase demand for its products, often through targeting specific groups or market segments. The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) recommends implementation of comprehensive bans on TAPS as part of an effective set of tobacco control policies. Article 13 of the WHO FCTC and its guidelines mandate a comprehensive ban on all TAPS. Besides, TAPS ban is one of the MPOWER strategy and is included in the 'Best Buys' for effective tobacco control. However, many countries, especially low-income and middle-income countries, primarily implement only partial TAPS bans, allowing the tobacco industry to directly or indirectly advertise and promote its products via multiple media. This review article analyzes the current state of affairs in respect of TAPS in India and Indonesia, the two of the largest countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region of the world, and discusses the way forward to address the identified gaps in TAPS ban policy formulation and implementation focusing on strengthening its compliance and enforcement at the country level.

Implementation of MPOWER Package in the South-East Asia Region: Evidence from the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic (2009-2021).

The WHO MPOWER package is a set of six evidence-based and cost-effective measures which was introduced on 7 February 2008 to facilitate the implementation of the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control at the ground level. These measures are: Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies (M); Protecting people from tobacco smoke (P); Offering help to quit tobacco use (O); Warning about the dangers of tobacco (W); Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (E); and Raising taxes on tobacco (R). Since its launch, the MPOWER package has become the guiding principle for all the countries of the South-East Asia Region in their crusade against the tobacco epidemic. This review article tracks the implementation of the MPOWER measures in the 11 member countries of the Region based on the last seven WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic (GTCR), i.e., GTCR2/2009-GTCR8/2021. This is with an aim to enable the countries to review their progress in implementing the MPOWER measures and to take steps to improve their advancement towards reducing the demand for tobacco products at the country level.

Cost-Effectiveness of Population Level and Individual Level Interventions to Combat Non-communicable Disease in Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia: A WHO-CHOICE Analysis.

BACKGROUND: To determine the health system costs and health-related benefits of interventions for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including mental health disorders, for the purpose of identifying the most cost-effective intervention options in support of global normative guidance on the best-buy interventions for NCDs. In addition, tools are developed to allow country contextualisation of the analyses to support local priority setting exercises. METHODS: This analysis follows the standard WHO-CHOICE (World Health Organization-Choosing Interventions that are Cost-Effective) approach to generalized cost-effectiveness analysis applied to two regions, Eastern sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. The scope of the analysis is all NCD and mental health interventions included in WHO guidelines or guidance documents for which the health impact of the intervention is able to be identified and attributed. Costs are measured in 2010 international dollars, and benefits modelled beginning in 2010, both for a period of 100 years. RESULTS: There are many interventions for NCD prevention and management that are highly cost-effective, generating one year of healthy life for less than Int. $100. These interventions include tobacco and alcohol control policies such as taxation, voluntary and legislative actions to reduce sodium intake, mass media campaigns for reducing physical activity, and treatment options for cardiovascular disease (CVD), cervical cancer and epilepsy. In addition a number of interventions fall just outside this range, including breast cancer, depression and chronic lung disease treatment. CONCLUSION: Interventions that represent good value for money, are technically feasible and are delivered for a low per-capita cost, are available to address the rapid rise in NCDs in low- and middle-income countries. This paper also describes a tool to support countries in developing NCD action plans.

Association between electronic nicotine delivery systems and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems with initiation of tobacco use in individuals aged < 20 years. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review described the association between electronic nicotine delivery systems and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/ENNDS) use among non-smoking children and adolescents aged <20 years with subsequent tobacco use. METHODS: We searched five electronic databases and the grey literature up to end of September 2020. Prospective longitudinal studies that described the association between ENDS/ENNDS use, and subsequent tobacco use in those aged < 20 years who were non-smokers at baseline were included. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess risk of bias. Data were extracted by two reviewers and pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. We generated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (ARRs) describing associations between ENDS/ENNDS and tobacco use. FINDINGS: A total of 36 publications met the eligibility criteria, of which 25 were included in the systematic review (23 in the meta-analysis) after exclusion of overlapping studies. Sixteen studies had high to moderate risk of bias. Ever users of ENDS/ENNDS had over three times the risk of ever cigarette use (ARR 3·01 (95% CI: 2·37, 3·82; p<0·001, I2: 82·3%), and current cigarette use had over two times the risk (ARR 2·56 (95% CI: 1·61, 4·07; p<0·001, I2: 77·3%) at follow up. Among current ENDS/ENNDS users, there was a significant association with ever (ARR 2·63 (95% CI: 1·94, 3·57; p<0·001, I2: 21·2%)), but not current cigarette use (ARR 1·88 (95% CI: 0·34, 10·30; p = 0·47, I2: 0%)) at follow up. For other tobacco use, ARR ranged between 1·55 (95% CI 1·07, 2·23) and 8·32 (95% CI: 1·20, 57·04) for waterpipe and pipes, respectively. Additionally, two studies examined the use of ENNDS (non-nicotine devices) and found a pooled adjusted RR of 2·56 (95% CI: 0·47, 13·94, p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need for policies that regulate the availability, accessibility, and marketing of ENDS/ENNDS to children and adolescents. Governments should also consider adopting policies to prevent ENDS/ENNDS uptake and use in children and adolescents, up to and including a ban for this group.

Prevalence of electronic nicotine delivery systems and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There are concerns that the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS) in children and adolescents could potentially be harmful to health. Understanding the extent of use of these devices is crucial to informing public health policy. We aimed to synthesise the prevalence of ENDS or ENNDS use in children and adolescents younger than 20 years. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we undertook an electronic search in five databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, and Wiley Cochrane Library) from Jan 1, 2016, to Aug 31, 2020, and a grey literature search. Included studies reported on the prevalence of ENDS or ENNDS use in nationally representative samples in populations younger than 20 years and collected data between the years 2016 and 2020. Studies were excluded if they were done in those aged 20 years or older, used data from specialist panels that did not apply appropriate weighting, or did not use methods that ensured recruitment of a nationally representative sample. We included the most recent data for each country. We combined multiple national estimates for a country if they were done in the same year. We undertook risk of bias assessment for all surveys included in the review using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist (by two reviewers in the author list). A random effects meta-analysis was used to pool overall prevalence estimates for ever, current, occasional, and daily use. This study was prospectively registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020199485. FINDINGS: The most recent prevalence data from 26 national surveys representing 69 countries and territories, with a median sample size of 3925 (IQR 1=2266, IQR 3=10 593) children and adolescents was included. In children and adolescents aged between 8 years and younger than 20 years, the pooled prevalence for ever (defined as any lifetime use) ENDS or ENNDS use was 17·2% (95% CI 15-20, I2=99·9%), whereas for current use (defined as use in past 30 days) the pooled prevalence estimate was 7·8% (6-9, I2=99·8%). The pooled estimate for occasional use was 0·8% (0·5-1·2, I2=99·4%) for daily use and 7·5% (6·1-9·1, I2=99·4%) for occasional use. Prevalence of ENDS or ENNDS use was highest in high-income geographical regions. In terms of study quality, all surveys scored had a low risk of bias for the sampling frame used, due to the nationally representative nature of the studies. The most poorly conducted methodological feature of the included studies was subjects and setting described in detail. Few surveys reported on the use of flavours or types of ENDS or ENNDS. INTERPRETATION: There is significant variability in the prevalence of ENDS and ENNDS use in children and adolescents globally by country income status. These findings are possibly due to differences in regulatory context, market availability, and differences in surveillance systems. FUNDING: World Health Organization and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Lung health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: the need to end designated smoking areas in public places (Editorial).

Tobacco use is a fatal habit that causes harm to almost all organs of the human body and kills up to half of its users. Studies have shown that tobacco contains a poisonous mix of more than 7000 chemicals that have major consequences, including heart attacks and strokes , and are considered major risk factors for many types of cancer (4) and the leading cause of lung cancer. Moreover, tobacco use dramatically affects the respiratory system, damaging its airways and alveoli, and leading to chronic obstructive lung diseases1 including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

The WHO-ERS Smoking Cessation Training Project: the first year of experience.

Strategic @ERSTalk-@WHO alliance to address tobacco use by training health professionals on brief advice resulted in establishing smoking cessation in real care settings with quit rates higher than the literature and high propensity for wider dissemination http://ow.ly/lWDF30krq5V.