Burden of disease from exposure to secondhand smoke in children in Europe

Citation

Carreras G, Lachi A, Cortini B, Gallus S, López MJ, López-Nicolás Á, Lugo A, Pastor MT, Soriano JB, Fernandez E, Gorini G, TackSHS Project Investigators, Semple S, O’Donnell R & Dobson R (2021) Burden of disease from exposure to secondhand smoke in children in Europe. Pediatric Research, 90 (1), pp. 216-222. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-01223-6

Abstract
Background Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure at home and fetal SHS exposure during pregnancy are a major cause of disease among children. The aim of this study is quantifying the burden of disease due to SHS exposure in children and in pregnancy in 2006–2017 for the 28 European Union (EU) countries. Methods Exposure to SHS was estimated using a multiple imputation procedure based on the Eurobarometer surveys, and SHS exposure burden was estimated with the comparative risk assessment method using meta-analytical relative risks. Data on deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were collected from National statistics and from the Global Burden of Disease Study. Results Exposure to SHS and its attributable burden stalled in 2006–2017; in pregnant women, SHS exposure was 19.8% in 2006, 19.1% in 2010, and 21.0% in 2017; in children it was 10.1% in 2006, 9.6% in 2010, and 12.1% in 2017. In 2017, 35,633 DALYs among children were attributable to SHS exposure in the EU, mainly due to low birth weight. Conclusions Comprehensive smoking bans up to 2010 contributed to reduce SHS exposure and its burden in children immediately after their implementation; however, SHS exposure still occurs, and in 2017, its burden in children was still relevant.

Notes
TackSHS Project Investigators: Esteve Fernández, Yolanda Castellano, Marcela Fu, Montse Ballbè, Beladenta Amalia, Olena Tigova, Maria José López, Xavier Continente, Teresa Arechavala, Elisabet Henderson, Silvano Gallus, Alessandra Lugo, Xiaoqiu Liu, Elisa Borroni, Paolo Colombo, Sean Semple, Rachel O’Donnell, Ruaraidh Dobson, Luke Clancy, Sheila Keogan, Hannah Byrne, Panagiotis Behrakis, Anna Tzortzi, Constantine Vardavas, Vergina Konstantina Vyzikidou, Gerasimos Bakelas, George Mattiampa, Roberto Boffi, Ario Ruprecht, Cinzia De Marco, Alessandro Borgini, Chiara Veronese, Martina Bertoldi, Andrea Tittarelli, Giuseppe Gorini, Giulia Carreras, Barbara Cortini, Simona Verdi, Alessio Lachi, Elisabetta Chellini, Ángel López-Nicolás, Marta Trapero-Bertran, Daniel Celdrán Guerrero, Cornel Radu-Loghin, Dominick Nguyen, Polina Starchenko, Joan B. Soriano, Julio Ancochea, Tamara Alonso, María Teresa Pastor, Marta Erro, Ana Roca, Patricia Pérez and Elena García-Castillo

Journal
Pediatric Research: Volume 90, Issue 1

People

Dr Rachel O'Donnell

Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Social Marketing

Professor Sean Semple

Professor, Institute for Social Marketing