In the Netherlands, 672,000 people are chronically ill due to smoking. They suffer from diseases such as cancer, COPD and cardiovascular diseases, according to research by the RIVM. It is the first time that it has been calculated how many cases of chronic disease are caused by smoking.
The RIVM conducted the research on behalf of Rookvrije Generatie. This foundation (established by the Hartstichting, the KWF and the Lung Foundation) wants children to have the opportunity to grow up smoke-free.
The calculations concern fifteen chronic diseases in which smoking plays a role. In some of these diseases, smoking is the main cause. In both laryngeal cancer and lung cancer, more than eight out of ten cases are caused by smoking. In the lung disease COPD, smoking is the cause in more than three quarters of the cases.
According to the study, nearly 400,000 men have a chronic disease caused by smoking, as do nearly 300,000 women.
