The economic burden of tobacco use and the life quality among the Latvian working age population

Despite that numerous epidemiologic and laboratory research studies have revealed scientific evidence linking smoking and disease and the high prevalence of smoking in our country, still not enough data is available about the economic burden smoking costs to society. One efficient way to assess the adverse health effects of smoking on a society is to translate smoking-caused illnesses, premature mortality, and productivity losses into economic terms, a universal marker for measuring the adverse effects of smoking. The aim of the study is to calculate the burden of tobacco use to the health care system and to the society as well to analyze the quality of life of the tobacco users among the working age population in Latvia. The study analyzed secondary data available and calculated the burden of tobacco by using secondary data as well as a literature review was carried out. In Latvia, like in many other new EU Member States the lack of data is the main cause, which prevents comprehensive and objective analysis of the burden smoking causes to society and to smokers. Smoking costs billions of Euros to the Latvian economy, but due to the lack of data, the study does not take in to account the expenditure individuals pay individually (out of pocket) and other indirect expenses for example - of disability, loss of employment, etc. The scientific significance of the study is that the understanding of the relationship between quality of life and tobacco smoking and the burden of the tobacco related diseases on the health care system is important not only for smokers to help them quit, but also helps to create evidence-based health care prevention programs and policy systems that lowers the emerging data and costs caused from tobacco use.