Kerala tobacco users spent Rs.545 crore on treatment

Thiruvananthapuram, July 9 (IANS) Keralites spent a whopping Rs.545 crore on treatment of tobacco-related diseases during 2011, according to a new study.

The study on "The Economic Burden of Tobacco-related Diseases-2011" was conducted by the Public Health Foundation of India with support from the union ministry of health and family welfare and the WHO Country Office for India.

In Kerala, 21.4 percent adults (15 years and above) use tobacco while 42 percent adults are exposed to second-hand smoke at home.

Cardiovascular diseases shared the highest economic burden of Rs.226 crore on account of tobacco use, followed by respiratory diseases (Rs.198 crore), tuberculosis (Rs.67 crore) and cancers (Rs.55 crore).

Direct costs include the health care expenditures for in-patient hospitalisation or out-patient visits, including surgeon's fees, medicines, diagnostic tests and other costs directly related to in-patient hospitalisation or out-patient visits.

Indirect costs comprise expenditures incurred for transportation, lodging charges for caregivers and also the loss of household income.