A recent study conducted by the American Cancer Society (ACS) has revealed alarming findings regarding the mortality risks associated with smoking menthol cigarettes compared to non-menthol cigarettes. The study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, highlighted the increased risks for death from any cause and cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart diseases, among individuals who smoke menthol-flavored cigarettes.
The research, led by Dr. Priti Bandi, the scientific director of risk factors and screening research at the American Cancer Society, found that Black participants who currently smoke menthol brands had an 88% elevated mortality risk for certain heart diseases compared to those smoking non-menthol cigarettes. The study also emphasized the importance of quitting smoking, as it substantially reduced the health risks associated with both types of cigarettes.
The study followed nearly a million participants from the Cancer Prevention Study II, a population-based cohort established in the early 1980s. Participants were monitored for mortality outcomes over a six-year period, with all-cause and cause-specific mortality risks assessed based on their smoking status and the menthol flavor of the cigarettes they smoked.
Among the key findings were the risks associated with high smoking intensities and the impact of quitting smoking on reducing mortality risks. Individuals who had quit smoking but had a history of smoking menthol cigarettes faced increased mortality risks for various cardiovascular diseases. However, the study emphasized that quitting all types of cigarettes was crucial in reducing the risk of premature death.
Dr. Bandi stressed the urgent need for regulations on menthol cigarettes to save lives, citing the established public health threat posed by menthol in cigarettes. The study’s results underscored the importance of comprehensive tobacco control policies to support individuals in quitting smoking and prevent youth and young adults from becoming addicted to tobacco products.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) echoed these sentiments, advocating for barrier-free access to cessation services and support for individuals who smoke. The organization pledged to work towards increasing funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs, ending the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products, and implementing other evidence-based tobacco control measures.
The study’s findings have significant implications for public health policies and underscore the critical need to address the unique mortality risks associated with menthol cigarettes. By raising awareness of the dangers of smoking menthol-flavored cigarettes and promoting smoking cessation, policymakers and health organizations can help reduce the burden of tobacco-related diseases and save lives.
As this study sheds light on the harmful effects of menthol cigarettes, it serves as a call to action for comprehensive tobacco control measures to protect public health and promote smoking cessation.
