Written Question · S2W-21437 · Session 2
How many incidents of (a) smoking and (b) alcohol-related conditions were treated in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which infor…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of (a) smoking and (b) alcohol-related conditions were treated in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which information is available; what the cost of treatment was in each year, and what estimate it has made of the cost to the economy of such incidents.
The answer
(a) Smoking-related conditions.
A patient’s smoking status is not recorded centrally on most routine datasets and there are a large number of conditions which could be related to smoking, but which could also have other causes. However, peer reviewed accredited research has estimated that smoking accounts for 13,000 deaths per annum in Scotland and that a further 35,000 people are treated by the NHS for smoking-related diseases each year. The precise cost of smoking related diseases is difficult to ascertain, since cost data collected centrally from the National Health Service in Scotland cannot be attributed to individual disease. However, the cost to the NHS in Scotland of treating smoking related disease is estimated to be approximately £200 million per year.
Table 1 shows acute hospital discharges with a main diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease or malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung, both of which are known to have an association with smoking.
Table 1: Acute Hospital (Non-Obstetric, Non-Psychiatric) In-Patient and Day Case Discharges with a Main Diagnosis1 of Ischaemic Heart Disease or Malignant Neoplasm of Trachea, Bronchus and Lung2: Years Ending 31 March 1998 and 2005.
Main Diagnosis
| 1998
| 2005P
Ischaemic heart disease
| 57,606
| 51,097
Malignant neoplasm of trachea bronchus and lung
| 12,643
| 17,092
It is not possible to estimate the cost to the Scottish economy of such smoking related incidents.
(b) Alcohol-related conditions
Information is not available on the cost of treating patients for specific conditions such as those relating to the consumption of alcohol. The latest published information on the economic costs of alcohol to society can be found in Alcohol Misuse In Scotland: Trends And Costs
- Final Report, dated October 2001. A copy of this report can be found by accessing:
http://www.alcoholinformation.isdscotland.org/alcohol_misuse/files/Catalyst_Full.pdf
I also refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20254 on 14 November 2005. This shows the combined figures for alcohol-related discharges from general acute and psychiatric hospitals during 1997-98 to 2001-02, and provides data for discharges from general acute hospitals only from 1997-98 to 2004-05. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
A patient’s smoking status is not recorded centrally on most routine datasets and there are a large number of conditions which could be related to smoking, but which could also have other causes. However, peer reviewed accredited research has estimated that smoking accounts for 13,000 deaths per annum in Scotland and that a further 35,000 people are treated by the NHS for smoking-related diseases each year. The precise cost of smoking related diseases is difficult to ascertain, since cost data collected centrally from the National Health Service in Scotland cannot be attributed to individual disease. However, the cost to the NHS in Scotland of treating smoking related disease is estimated to be approximately £200 million per year.
Table 1 shows acute hospital discharges with a main diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease or malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung, both of which are known to have an association with smoking.
Table 1: Acute Hospital (Non-Obstetric, Non-Psychiatric) In-Patient and Day Case Discharges with a Main Diagnosis1 of Ischaemic Heart Disease or Malignant Neoplasm of Trachea, Bronchus and Lung2: Years Ending 31 March 1998 and 2005.
Main Diagnosis
| 1998
| 2005P
Ischaemic heart disease
| 57,606
| 51,097
Malignant neoplasm of trachea bronchus and lung
| 12,643
| 17,092
It is not possible to estimate the cost to the Scottish economy of such smoking related incidents.
(b) Alcohol-related conditions
Information is not available on the cost of treating patients for specific conditions such as those relating to the consumption of alcohol. The latest published information on the economic costs of alcohol to society can be found in Alcohol Misuse In Scotland: Trends And Costs
- Final Report, dated October 2001. A copy of this report can be found by accessing:
http://www.alcoholinformation.isdscotland.org/alcohol_misuse/files/Catalyst_Full.pdf
I also refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20254 on 14 November 2005. This shows the combined figures for alcohol-related discharges from general acute and psychiatric hospitals during 1997-98 to 2001-02, and provides data for discharges from general acute hospitals only from 1997-98 to 2004-05. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-21437 by reference.