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Smoking ban
brings positive results - 17 per cent fall in admissions for
heart attacks in the first year after the smoking ban came
into force
A study of nine Scottish hospitals has found a 17 per cent
fall in admissions for heart attacks in the first year after
the smoking ban came into force.
The figure is included in one of a series of research papers
to be presented today at an international conference
discussing the impact of the smoking ban on Scotland's
health, air quality and society.
The research is part of a national evaluation of the impact
of Scotland's smoke-free legislation which shows that the
smoking ban has had an overwhelmingly positive effect.
The evaluation found that after the legislation came into
force there was:
* a 17 per cent reduction in heart attack admissions to nine
Scottish hospitals. This compares with an annual reduction
in Scottish admissions for heart attack of 3 per cent per
year in the decade before the ban
* a 39 per cent reduction in second hand smoke exposure in
11-year-olds and in adult non-smokers
* an 86 per cent reduction in secondhand smoke in bars
*an increase in the proportion of homes with smoking
restrictions
* no evidence of smoking shifting from public places into
the home
* high public support for the legislation even among
smokers, whose support increased once the legislation was in
place
The conference, being held today and tomorrow at the
Edinburgh International Conference Centre, has attracted
researchers, public health specialists and policymakers from
as far as India, Nigeria and Kazakhstan.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Peter Donnelly said:
"This raft of research demonstrates the significant public
health benefits that the smoking ban is already having in
Scotland.
"It provides evidence that the legislation is improving the
health of everyone in Scotland - including smokers,
non-smokers, children and barworkers.
"One of the most important findings is the reduction in
heart attacks. We believe that the smoking ban was a large
contributory factor to this drop.
"I am confident that we will continue to see the positive
effects of the ban in years to come."
Sally Haw, Principal Public Health Adviser at Health
Scotland, who co-ordinated the research programme, said:
"The programme of evaluation is the most comprehensive yet
conducted into the impact of smoke-free legislation.
"We found clear evidence of improvement in air quality, a 40
per cent reduction in secondhand smoke exposure in the
population and a dramatic 17 per cent reduction in heart
attacks.
"As well as providing feedback for Scotland, the results
from the evaluation will help support countries worldwide in
their efforts to develop and implement smokefree legislation
and reduce the harm caused by secondhand smoke."
Public Health Minister Shona Robison, who will close the
conference tomorrow, said:
"This impressive research showcases the benefits of the ban
to Scotland on the world stage. I am delighted that public
health experts from across the world have come to Edinburgh
to hear first-hand how the ban has benefited the nation.
"More and more countries in Europe and across the rest of
the world are now following suit by banning smoking in
public places and I am proud that Scotland led the way in
the UK.
"We want to continue the work to make Scotland a smoke free
society and that is why next month, subject to Parliamentary
approval, we will be raising the age of cigarette sales from
16 to 18."
The heart attack admissions to the nine study hospitals
account for 63 per cent of all Scottish admissions for heart
attack.
10/09/2007, The Scottish Government
Concise Encyclopedia and Internet Press Office
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Copyright, 2007: KK
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