Objective: The goal of the study is the estimation of mortality rates attributable to tobacco smoking (TAM) for the Federal States of Germany.
Methods: The 0.5% representative sample of the German population with data about tobacco smoking (microcensus 1995) as well as the data about causes of death according to ICD from the Federal Office of Statistics are used. On these grounds the mortality as well as the smoking prevalence and, on the basis of data of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, the mortality risks for smokers in comparison to never-smokers are estimated.
Results: Tobacco-smoking attributable mortality rates vary in females from 5.6% to 13.2% in the Federal States, in males from 24.3% to 29.2% (age: 35 years or older). Women in the City States show the highest TAM rates. The TAM rate for Germany (females and males taken together) is 17.0% of the total mortality at an age of 35 years and above.
Conclusion: The data reveal for Germany that tobacco smoking is the most preventable health risk.