The cost of smoking: an emergency department analysis.
A representative sample of emergency departments visits was taken to determine the incidence of tobacco-related illnesses. Seven percent of all visits and 12% of gross billings were for illnesses associated with tobacco use. After calculation of attributable risk it was determined that 3% of visits and 5% of gross billings were directly attributable to tobacco. When the latter figures are extrapolated to all emergency departments in the United States, the result is nearly 2.5 million visits and $0.5 billion per year.
Hauswald
M
M
Division of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131.
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D013223:Statistics as Topic