Tobacco-related deaths in France: a sharp rise among women
June 23, 2020
Par: chef-projet@dnf.asso.fr
Dernière mise à jour: June 23, 2020
Temps de lecture: 3 minutes
Between 2000 and 2014, the number of tobacco-related deaths among women doubled. This was announced in October 2018 by the French Public Health Agency, which deemed the trend "very worrying." But at a time when men are reducing their consumption, why such an increase in mortality among women?
A counter-current trend
Smoking among women began to become widespread in the 1970s. Gradually, the number of female smokers approached that of male smokers: in 2017, 24% of women aged 15 to 75 smoked, compared to 30% of men. And while the number of smokers fell by one million between 2016 and 2017, smoking among women aged 45 to 54 remained unchanged.
Emancipation and Marketing
Among the factors that could explain this practice, we can of course cite the emancipation of women, but also the targeted marketing strategies of tobacco manufacturers. Thus, brands like Fine, Vogue, Corset, and Allure conveyed an image that was intended to be glamorous and/or evoke slenderness. These arguments could have been attractive to women. Their names having been deemed too attractive, these brands were banned from sale in 2017.[1].
Significant consequences for women's health
This rise in female smoking has unsurprisingly led to an increase in the number of lung cancers, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and myocardial infarctions. A 2018 study by Santé publique France announced that lung cancer is expected to become the most deadly disease among women in the near future, ahead of breast cancer. Indeed, lung cancer increased by 71% in women between 2000 and 2014 – it decreased by 15% in men. The women affected are mostly between 55 and 64 years old: they therefore belong to the generation born in the 1950s, who began smoking in large numbers in the 1970s.
Pregnancy: risks for both mother and fetus
It should be noted that 16% of pregnant women still smoke at the end of their pregnancy, which represents one of the highest rates in Europe. A study by Santé publique France reveals significant inequalities: pregnant women smoke more in the West and North than in Île-de-France. Education level and income appear to have a significant impact on the results. Finally, it should be noted that while half of smokers stop smoking during pregnancy, 82% unfortunately resume smoking after giving birth.
Yet, quitting smoking permanently would protect their health and prevent their baby and the rest of their family from running the risks associated with passive smoking. Special monitoring of these specific cessations could therefore be considered in order to sustain smoking cessation and attempt to reverse the mortality curve mentioned above.
[i] "Women remain a major target for the tobacco industry" https://www.generationsanstabac.org/actualites/les-femmes-demeurent-une-cible-majeure-pour-lindustrie-du-tabac/
[i] "Women: A Century of Targeted Marketing by the Tobacco Industry" https://www.generationsanstabac.org/actualites/femmes-siecle-ciblage-marketing-industrie-tabac/
“Tobacco-related deaths: they double among women in 15 years”, L'Express and AFP, www.lexpress.fr, October 30, 2018 https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/sante/deces-lies-au-tabac-ils-doublent-chez-les-femmes-en-15-ans_2045362.html
