Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses—United States, 2000–2004

November 14, 2008 / Vol. 57 / No. 45

MMWR Introduction

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Adult and Child Health Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity, and Economic Cost (SAMMEC) software, during 2000–2004, an estimated 443,000 persons in the United States died prematurely each year from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. During 2001–2004, the average annual smoking-attributable health-care expenditures nationwide were approximately $96 billion. When combined with productivity losses of $97 billion, the total economic burden of smoking is approximately $193 billion per year.