Objective: The goal of the study is the estimation of mortality rates attri
butable 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. O
n 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 mo
rtality 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: 3
5 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 t
otal mortality at an age of 35 years and above.
Conclusion: The data reveal for Germany that tobacco smoking is the most pr
eventable health risk.