Study Says Smoking Kills Five Million Worldwide

A study conducted by researchers at Harvard University and the University of Queensland finds that 5 million people worldwide died from smoking-related illnesses in 2000, with cardiovascular disease the leading cause of death, followed by lung cancer, Reuters reported Nov. 23.

The study found that men were three times more likely than women to die from a smoking-related disease. Half of all deaths occurred in smokers between the ages of 30 and 69.

"The health consequences of smoking will continue to grow unless effective interventions and policies that curb and reduce smoking and prevent increases are implemented," the authors wrote.

The findings were based on a statistical analysis and an examination of population and mortality data in 14 regions of the world.

Source: The Journal of Tobacco Control, December 2004.