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New Study Finds Healthcare Costs for Minority Smokers Double That of White Smokers
A recent analysis of national health and medical spending data shows that the annual tobacco-related healthcare expenses of minority smokers in the United States are twice as high as those of white adult smokers. The study, published online in the journal Tobacco Control, also revealed that the excess risks of three or more chronic health conditions related to smoking are more than 40% higher among minority adults, despite their lower smoking rates. The findings suggest that minority adults stand to benefit significantly more from tobacco control policies than their white peers.
According to the researchers, each year, cigarette smoking is responsible for the premature deaths of 480,000 people, making it the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the U.S. In response, the United States Food and Drug Administration proposed guidelines in 2022 to reduce the addictiveness of cigarettes and prevent an estimated 33 million people from smoking by 2100.
Advocating for such significant policy, the President requested that cost-benefit analyses for new tobacco control policies should take into account their impact on various segments of the population. This led to the first-time estimation of the racial and ethnic differences in medical costs and health outcomes associated with smoking in the United States.
Between 2008 and 2019, 15% of minority adults smoked, compared to 17% of white adults. While the percentage of white adults attempting to quit smoking fell to 53% in 2019, this percentage increased to 63% for minorities.
Tobacco-related health concerns made up just under 12% of the total annual treatment spend for white adult smokers, but were twice as significant for minority adults, driving the majority of Hispanic and other racial groups.
Minority adults were also significantly more likely to have three or more of the top 10 conditions related to smoking in the United States, making them 34% more likely than white adults who smoke.
Between 2008 and 2016, smoking accounted for 7.5% of the country’s overall healthcare costs for white adults and almost 11% for minorities. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted tobacco control policies that address the specific needs and health disparities of minority communities in the U.S. » …
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