Cancer, the leading cause of smoking-related deaths

This Friday, Santé publique France is publishing the first estimates of the proportion of deaths attributable to smoking at the regional level in the Public Health Bulletins (BSP).

While the proportion of deaths attributable to smoking is 13% at the national level, it ranges from 3.7% in Guadeloupe to 15.5% in Corsica, followed by the Grand Est region (14.7%) and Hauts-de-France (14.5%).

Among women, the proportion of deaths attributable to smoking was 6.9% nationally (representing 19,800 attributable deaths) and ranged from 1.3% of deaths in Guadeloupe to 8.7% in Île-de-France. Among men, the proportion of these deaths was 19.3% nationwide (57,300 attributable deaths) and ranged from 5.9% in Guadeloupe to 23.2% in Hauts-de-France.

The most common causes of deaths attributable to smoking are cancers, with over 45,000 deaths, followed by cardiovascular diseases (over 17,000). Nationally, cancers thus account for 61.7% of deaths. This rate varies across regions.

“While we are facing an unprecedented health crisis with COVID-19, smoking remains a major public health issue. That is why Santé publique France is continuing its anti-smoking initiatives. Following ‘Month Without Tobacco,’ the Agency is launching a new campaign to motivate smokers and help them successfully quit smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic.” ” Viêt Nguyen-Thanh, Head of the Addictions Unit at Santé publique France.

A multi-channel campaign to support smoking cessation

From February 5 to March 5, Santé publique France is encouraging all smokers in their efforts to quit and reminds them that the professionals at Tabac info service are available to help.

Through a multi-channel initiative (web banners and social media engagement, special campaigns on the radio, in daily newspapers, and on social media, as well as in trade publications), the campaign explains that the current health crisis can still be an opportunity to quit smoking.

• Check out the campaign videos

Through positive and supportive messaging, the campaign provides the keys to staying motivated and successfully quitting smoking during the Covid-19 pandemic. Santé publique France is thus relying on Tabac info service, the smoking cessation support program. In 2020, an average of nearly 340,000 visits per month were recorded on the tabac-info-service.fr website, and there were over 331,000 downloads of the Tabac info service app. In 2020, the 39 89 helpline received 39,742 calls and provided more than 70,000 telephone consultations to support smoking cessation.

“The current health situation is prompting people to pay closer attention to their health and take better care of themselves. It’s also a time that makes us realize how many everyday habits help us stay healthy. During the first lockdown, 20% of smokers reduced their consumption. Cutting back or even quitting smoking in the current context is possible!” Viêt Nguyen-Thanh, head of the Addiction Unit at Santé publique France.