A recent study published in the scientific journal, PLOS ONE, states that in the first five years after the introduction of Prince Edward Island’s Smoke Free Places Act, there was an estimated reduction of 350 hospital admissions for heart attack and over 3.5 million dollars has been saved, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
“We are seeing fewer Islanders in hospital as a result of tobacco use, this is great news,” said Minister Currie. “This analysis provides some of the first evidence of improved health outcomes associated with the Smoke Free Places Act and it demonstrates the need for public health interventions on an on-going basis.”
The provincial Epidemiology Unit of the Chief Public Health Office has examined changes in cardiovascular and respiratory disease hospitalization rates occurring after the introduction of our anti-smoking legislation in Prince Edward Island. Conditions considered in this study include heart attack, angina, stroke, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma.
In Prince Edward Island, the Smoke Free Places Act came into force June 1, 2003 banning smoking in public places and work places. The new study compares hospital admissions pre-legislation period April 1, 1995 to May 31, 2003, to post-ban period from June 1, 2003 to December 31, 2008.
The study shows that following the introduction of the anti-smoking legislation, hospital admissions for heart attack for all individuals were significantly reduced by an estimated 350 cases. The study also shows that the monthly angina admission rate for males has significantly decreased. It is estimated that over 3.5 million dollars has been saved by the health care system since the introduction of the smoking ban legislation through to 2008 by the reduction in the number of heart attacks. Changes in hospitalization rates for other cardiovascular and respiratory diseases were not significantly associated with the legislation.
“Our Smoke Free Places Act is keeping Islanders healthier and out of hospitals,” said Minister Currie. “The information contained in this new report will be used for health services planning and it provides a further understanding of the effects of anti-smoking legislation on Islanders.”
In 2009, Government introduced major amendments to the Smoke Free Places Act, including:
• we eliminated designated smoking rooms in public places and work places;
• we eliminated designated smoking areas on hospital grounds;
• we prohibited smoking in vehicles with minors under the ages of 19 present;
• and we prohibited smoking on patios or decks of eating establishments and licensed establishments during certain hours of operation.
“We won’t know the benefits of these amendments for a number of years,” said Minister Currie. “But I am confident that these positive results will continue. We know that tobacco is a major killer – it is a risk factor for cancer, stroke, heart disease, COPD, and many other illnesses. This legislation is making a difference in the lives of Islanders.”
The nature of the data did not allow for analysis of non-smokers and active smokers separately. It is possible that the observed changes in heart attacks and angina admission rates are the result of more active smokers quitting.
The full journal article can be accessed online at: www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0056102.