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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Impact Assessment of Repeated Exposure of Organotypic 3D Bronchial and Nasal Tissue Culture Models to Whole Cigarette Smoke
Published on: February 12, 2015
[Pilot study: tobacco-attributable direct costs in two hospitals in Santiago, Chile]
María Soledad Martínez-Gutiérrez1, Jairo Vanegas L, Sandra Reveco U
1División de Políticas y Gestión en Salud, Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. msmartin@med.uchile.cl
Background:
Tobacco is the fourth cause of the global burden of disease, accounting for 79.9 million loss of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2001. In 2002, tobacco-attributable mortality in Chile represented 17% of total mortality.
Aim:
To estimate the direct cost of tobacco in Ischemic Heart Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Cancer, explore patients' disposition to answer a health related expenses questionnaire, validate the instruments used and determine an adequate sample size for an upcoming study.
Material And Methods:
Socio-demographic and health care related variables were investigated among patients attending two public hospitals for ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer, in a cross-sectional study. Costs were estimated using the national public health insurance price list and market prices. Tobacco-attributable fraction was then applied to calculate the tobacco-attributable cost of each disease.
Results:
The instruments used were validated. The group of lung cancer patients was smaller due to increased mortality prior to interview. Lung cancer generated the largest total and attributable direct costs. The costs in patients with ischemic heart disease were significantly lower
Conclusions:
There were some difficulties in the application of the questionnaire to register medication use. The sample size needed in a larger study was calculated for each of the three diseases. We recommend that a definitive study addresses tobacco-attributable direct costs related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
