Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Automated Measurement of Pulmonary Emphysema and Small Airway Remodeling in Cigarette Smoke-exposed Mice
Published on: January 16, 2015
Coronary heart disease attributable to passive smoking: CHD Policy Model
James M Lightwood1, Pamela G Coxson, Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. lightwoodj@pharmacy.ucsf.edu
Background:
Passive smoking is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), and existing estimates are out of date due to recent and substantial changes in the level of exposure.
Objective:
To estimate the annual clinical burden and cost of CHD treatment attributable to passive smoking.
Outcome Measures:
Annual attributable CHD deaths, myocardial infarctions (MI), total CHD events, and the direct cost of CHD treatment.
Methods:
A Monte Carlo simulation estimated the CHD events and costs as a function of the prevalence of CHD risk factors, including passive-smoking prevalence and a low (1.26) and high (1.65) relative risk of CHD due to passive smoking. Estimates were calculated using the CHD Policy Model, calibrated to reproduce key CHD outcomes in the baseline Year 2000 in the U.S.
Results:
At 1999-2004 levels, passive smoking caused 21,800 (SE=2400) to 75,100 (SE=8000) CHD deaths and 38,100 (SE=4300) to 128,900 (SE=14,000) MIs annually, with a yearly CHD treatment cost of $1.8 (SE=$0.2) to $6.0 (SE=$0.7) billion. If recent trends in the reduction in the prevalence of passive smoking continue from 2000 to 2008, the burden would be reduced by approximately 25%-30%.
Conclusions:
Passive smoking remains a substantial clinical and economic burden in the U.S.
Related Concept Videos
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
