SMOKING-ATTRIBUTABLE FRACTION (SAF) OF MEDICAL CARE COSTS FOR CANCER PATIENTS

Objectives: the economic impact of smoking on developing countries such as Iran has not been well documented still. This study aimed to develop the estimates of the direct costs of medicine for smoking in Iran during 2014. Methods: A prevalence-based approach was used to estimate the annual costs of smoking. Then, an econometric model was applied to estimate the Smoking-Attributable Fraction (SAF) for direct costs (prescription medicine) of smoking-attributable diseases. A variety of sociodemographic, economic, and behavioral factors were controlled by the model. Results: In 2014, the estimated proportions of medicine expenditures attributable to smoking in Tehran (capital of Iran) were totally 8% for chemotherapy and 1% for other medical treatments. Conclusion: Cigarette smoking was found to account for a significant portion of national medical expenditure. The varied range across the individuals was due to the difference in smoking prevalence, health status, and other socioeconomic variables used in the model. The cost methodology presented here can be useful for policy-making. The levels of cigarette taxes and other policies relevant to smoking can be assessed through cost estimates. Keywords: Smoking-attributable fraction, smoking-related disease, cost-based treatment, health policy