Anti-Smoking Declaration

A Message From The Japanese Circulation Society

Abstract

The number of deaths from cardio- and cerebro-vascular diseases (CVDs) rivals that from cancer in Japan. In the year 2000, heart disease, including coronary artery disease, claimed the lives of 147,000 Japanese persons, while cerebrovascular disease took the lives of 133,000 people, and cancer deaths were 295,000. Vascular diseases are clearly a major cause of deaths in adults. Further, a significant number of patients suffer from a variety of CVD-related illnesses. The prevention of these diseases and the improvement of quality of life through the reduction of morbidity and mortality is the ultimate goal for all researchers and physicians in cardiovascular disease. Reducing the number and severity of risk factors for heart disease and stroke should be the immediate goal of the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS).
The JCS has been strongly involved in efforts to reduce the risk factors of hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. Smoking is a well-recognized risk factor, and, for example, is associated with an increased risk of 1.7 to 3.0 times for coronary artery disease, 1.7 to 8.0 times for stroke, and 1.4 to 10.0 times for sudden death. For patients with CVDs, the longer the history of smoking, the more it aggravates the severity of the disease itself, and has greater affects on the activities of daily living by reducing oxygen availability in the patient. Passive smoking recently has been accepted as a major risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and cancers. The prevalence of smoking in teenagers and women is now increasing in Japan, giving the prospect of serious consequences for the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of CVDs in the future. In particular, the combination of smoking and the oral contraceptive pill multiplies the risk of CVDs. Therefore, a national campaign to quit smoking and to eliminate passive smoking is needed. In terms of primary prevention, the excellent cost-benefit ratio of a non-smoking policy will help control the present spiraling increase in medical expenditures.
Non-smoking measures are extremely important for the prevention and treatment of CVDs. A survey in 2002, however, revealed a high prevalence of smoking by Japanese physicians in the circulatory field (14% of men and 13% of women physicians). This prevalence is worse than in the United States 20 years ago. As for medical institutions recognized by the JCS, the same survey shows that only 5% completely ban smoking, and only 5% run a smoking cessation clinic in their cardiovascular departments. These figures clearly show that the importance of smoking issues is not recognized, and that cardiovascular physicians in Japan have been slow to act against tobacco use.
The Japanese Circulation Society, as the leading professional association for cardiovascular specialists in Japan, hereby declares that we will vigorously fight against smoking by working to ban smoking, encouraging smoking cessation, and preventing passive smoking exposure. This effort will begin within our own membership. The JCS will promote the importance of these counter measures to the public. The JCS has defined 10 specific targets for this effort to decrease smoking and its negative effects and will focus on 3 audiences: the JCS and its membership, hospitals and medical schools, and the general public.