World's 90% health burden of chewing tobacco concentrated in 10 countries, including India: Study
A new study published in The Lancet Global Health reveals that 90% of the global health burden from chewing tobacco is concentrated in just 10 countries, with South Asia serving as the epicenter. Researchers found that chewing tobacco contributes to over 250,000 deaths annually, primarily due to oral cancers and strokes.
Why it matters
Identifying specific geographic hotspots for tobacco use is essential for designing targeted public health interventions to reduce preventable deaths.
) India is among the top countries with 90% of the world's chewing tobacco-related health burden, and South Asia is the "epicentre" of chewing tobacco, according to new research published in The Lancet Global Health journal.
Researchers estimated that chewing tobacco contributed to 251,000 deaths globally in 2023 -- there were 241 million chewing tobacco users globally, with use peaking among individuals 60 to 64 years old, they said.
The analysis, part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) and covering 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, distinguishes the burden of chewing tobacco from that of other forms of smokeless tobacco, the team said.
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