Estimating the short-term clinical and economic benefits of smoking cessation: do we have it right?
Smoking cessation is cost effective from a long-term perspective, but less is known about its short-term cost-effectiveness. Short-term health benefits are clear for certain groups, such as cardiovascular patients, pregnant women and patients undergoing surgery. Smoking cessation reduces overall mortality, cardiovascular mortality and cancer-related mortality within 5 years of quitting, and, in some cases, the risks are reduced to the levels of never smokers. In this article, conducted from a USA policy perspective, we found some evidence of the clinical and economic benefits of smoking cessation in the short term, which could be incorporated into cost-effectiveness studies. Nonetheless, the policy and social welfare implications of a short-term focus must be carefully evaluated, considering the established favorable long-term cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation.
Menzin
Joseph
J
Boston Health Economics, Inc., 20 Fox Road, Waltham, MA 02451, USA. jmenzin@bhei.com
Lines
Lisa M
LM
Marton
Jeno
J
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics; D011247:Pregnancy; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000191:economics; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States