SS 16.00-17.30 Special sessions
Subjects of a random population sample of 5247 men aged 25-59 years from the provinces of Kuopio and North Karelia in eastern Finland, initially surveyed in 1972, were linked to a set of national registers covering hospital admissions, use of major drugs, sickness absence, disability pensions, and deaths by using the social security identification number. The actual cost events of the subjects were followed up until 1991.
The difference in mean lost life-expectancy between current-smokers and never smokers was 3.0 years, and in lost work-time 2.6 years. Between current-smokers and former-smokers the difference in mean lost life-expectancy was 1.8 years, and in mean lost work-time 1.6 years. The difference between current-smokers and never-smokers in mean health service costs was $3,500, and in mean total costs $84,100. No difference in mean health care costs between current-smokers and former-smokers was found, while the difference in mean total cost was $53,400.
Smokers incurred considerable costs in terms of both direct health care expenditure and indirect productivity losses in comparison to never-smoking population. Comparing current-smokers with former-smokers only statistically significant gains appeared in mortality related outcomes. Overall, the premature mortality is clearly the most important outcome variable in the economic analysis of smoking.
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