Two-thirds of smokers' deaths linked to their habit and smoking cuts 10 years from lifespan, comprehensive study shows

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

An Australian study has shown that smoking is even more deadly than previously thought, cutting 10 years off the average smoker’s life.

A study of more than 200,000 Australians shows the habit is directly linked to two-thirds of deaths in current smokers, much higher than previous international estimates of 50%.

The four-year analysis of health records in the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study shows even moderate smoking is a major killer.

"We all know that smoking is bad for your health. But until now we haven't had direct large-scale evidence from Australia about just how bad it is," says study leader, professor Emily Banks, the scientific director of the 45 and Up study.

"We've been relying on evidence from other countries."

The study, supported by the National Heart Foundation in collaboration with Cancer Council NSW, shows risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked a day.

The risk of death is doubled even among those smoking an average of 10 cigarettes a day, says study co-author, associate professor Freddy Sitas, from Cancer Council NSW.

The good news, says Banks, is that stopping smoking at any age reduces the risk.

Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death in Australia and kills 15,000 people a year, says the National Heart Foundation's Dr Rob Grenfell, who worked on the study.

"People need to realise that smoking is a dangerous activity," he said. "There's no safe level of smoking and there's no such thing as social smoking."