Burden of disease attributable to tobacco use in Paraguay, and potential health and financial impact of increasing prices through taxing

Authors

  • Ariel Bardach Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Médico, doctor en Salud Pública http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4437-0073
  • Felicia Cañete Dirección de Vigilancia de Enfermedades No Transmisibles, Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social. Asunción, Paraguay. médico, especialista en Medicina Interna, magíster en Salud Pública
  • Víctor Guillermo Sequera Dirección de Vigilancia de Enfermedades No Transmisibles, Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social. Asunción, Paraguay. médico, especialista en Medicina Interna, magíster en Salud Pública
  • Alfredo Palacios Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina. licenciado en Economía, magíster en Economía
  • Andrea Alcaraz Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina. médica especialista en Cardiología, magíster en Efectividad Clínica
  • Belén Rodríguez Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina. médico especialista en Medicina Interna, magíster en Efectividad Clínica
  • Joaquín Caporale Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina. licenciado en Economía, magíster en Finanzas Públicas Provinciales y Municipales.
  • Federico Augustovski Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Médico, doctor en Salud Pública
  • Andrés Pichón-Riviere Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Médico, doctor en Salud Pública

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2018.354.3708

Keywords:

Tobacco use, Cost of illness, Cost-Effectiveness evaluation, Taxes, Paraguay

Abstract

Objectives. To consider the burden of disease associated to tobacco consumption in Paraguay and to evaluate the potential economic and health effect of price increase through taxes. Materials and Methods. A Monte Carlo simulation model was designed incorporating natural history, costs, and quality of life of diseases associated to smoking for 2015. Also, several scenarios were considered for the impact of tax raises on the prevalence of smoking and fiscal collection. Results. In Paraguay, 3,354 people die every year as a consequence of smoking. Nineteen percent of deaths are due to cardiac ischemia, 15% due to stroke. 77% of deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 83% of lung cancer can be attributed to smoking. These diseases in Paraguay represent an annual direct medical cost of more than 1.5 trillion PYG, while the tax collection from cigarette sales barely covers 20% of this expense. A 50% increase in the price of cigarettes via taxes could avoid 2507 deaths in ten years and generate resources by 2.4 trillion in savings in health expenses and tax of collection. Conclusions. The cost and the burden of disease associated to tobacco consumption is high in the health system in Paraguay. An increase in cigarette price through taxes could have significant health benefits and could offset health costs in part.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Published

2018-12-21

Issue

Section

Original Article

How to Cite

1.
Bardach A, Cañete F, Sequera VG, Palacios A, Alcaraz A, Rodríguez B, et al. Burden of disease attributable to tobacco use in Paraguay, and potential health and financial impact of increasing prices through taxing. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica [Internet]. 2018 Dec. 21 [cited 2024 Dec. 12];35(4):599-60. Available from: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/3708

Most read articles by the same author(s)