Tobacco smoking-attributable mortality in Kenya, 2012-2021.

Tobacco smoking poses a significant risk for various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers. In Kenya, tobacco-related deaths contribute substantially to non-communicable disease mortality. This study aims to quantify the mortality attributed to tobacco smoking in Kenya from 2012 to 2021. Employing a prevalence-based analysis model, the study utilized population attributable fraction (PAF) to estimate age-specific smoke attributable mortality (SAM) rates for individuals aged ≥35 years. Causes of death associated with tobacco use, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, and diabetes, were analyzed based on age, sex, and death records between 2012 and 2021. Over the study period, 60228 deaths were attributed to tobacco-related diseases, with an annual increase observed until 2016 and subsequent fluctuations. Respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, malignant cancers, tuberculosis, and cardiovascular diseases collectively accounted for 16.5% of deaths among individuals aged ≥35 years. Notable contributors were pneumonia and influenza (respiratory diseases), esophageal cancer (cancers), and cerebrovascular diseases (cardiovascular diseases). Of the observed deaths, 16.5% were attributed to smoking, with respiratory diseases (40.5%), malignant cancers (31.4%), tuberculosis (13%), cardiovascular diseases (8.9%), and diabetes mellitus (6.1%) contributing. Pneumonia and influenza, esophageal cancer, chronic airway obstruction, and tuberculosis were primary causes, comprising 70% of all SAM. Tobacco-related mortality is a significant public health concern in Kenya. Efforts should focus on preventing tobacco use and managing associated disease burdens. Smoking cessation initiatives and comprehensive tobacco control measures are imperative to mitigate the impact on population health.

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© 2024 Odeny L. et al.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors have each completed and submitted an ICMJE form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. The authors declare that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, related to the current work. All the authors report that since the initial planning of the work, Development Gateway funded the publication of the manuscript and in the past 36 months supported the participation in Mombasa meeting in 27 November - 2 December 2023. L. Odeny, G. Gathecha, V. Mwenda, A. Kendagor, S. Cheburet, B. Mugi, C. Mithi, F. Jaguga, K. Okinda, J.R. Ong’ang’o, report that in the past 36 months, Development Gateway paid the consultation fees. K. Okinda reports that in the past 36 months, Development Gateway provided support for attending a training for research assistants in Nairobi. R.K. Devotsu reports that since the initial planning of the work, Development Gateway funded the research and is paying for the publication of the manuscript, and that in the past 36 months received employment contract as Regional Manager for Africa from McCabe Centre for Law and cancer, consulting fees from Development Gateway (Consultancy contract as a Senior Tobacco Control Adviser) and consulting fees from Union for International Cancer Control (Consultancy contract to build tobacco tax advocacy coalitions in Kenya and Uganda), and that she was a board member at Kenya Cancer Association and International Institute for Legislative Affairs. S.F. Mohamed reports that in the past 36 months, Development Gateway paid for the project management fees.