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The Contribution of Smoking to Black-White Differences in U.S. Mortality

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  • Jessica Ho
  • Irma Elo

Abstract

Smoking has significantly impacted American mortality and remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. No previous study has systematically examined the contribution of smoking-attributable deaths to mortality trends among blacks or to black-white mortality differences at older ages over time in the United States. In this article, we employ multiple methods and data sources to provide a comprehensive assessment of this contribution. We find that smoking has contributed to the black-white gap in life expectancy at age 50 for males, accounting for 20 % to 48 % of the gap between 1980 and 2005, but not for females. The fraction of deaths attributable to smoking at ages above 50 is greater for black males than for white males; and among men, current smoking status explains about 20 % of the black excess relative risk in all-cause mortality at ages above 50 without adjustment for socioeconomic characteristics. These findings advance our understanding of the contribution of smoking to contemporary mortality trends and differences and reinforce the need for interventions that better address the needs of all groups. Copyright Population Association of America 2013

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  • Jessica Ho & Irma Elo, 2013. "The Contribution of Smoking to Black-White Differences in U.S. Mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(2), pages 545-568, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:demogr:v:50:y:2013:i:2:p:545-568
    DOI: 10.1007/s13524-012-0159-z
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    3. Alexander, Adam C. & Nollen, Nicole L. & Ahluwalia, Jasjit S. & Hébert, Emily T. & Businelle, Michael S. & Kendzor, Darla E., 2019. "Darker skin color is associated with a lower likelihood of smoking cessation among males but not females," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    4. Brian L. Rostron & Cindy M. Chang & Brittny C. Davis Lynn & Chunfeng Ren & Esther Salazar & Bridget K. Ambrose, 2022. "The contribution of smoking-attributable mortality to differences in mortality and life expectancy among US African-American and white adults, 2000–2019," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 46(31), pages 905-918.
    5. Andrasfay, Theresa & Goldman, Noreen, 2020. "Physical functioning and survival: Is the link weaker among Latino and black older adults?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    6. Baig, Sabeeh A. & Pepper, Jessica K. & Morgan, Jennifer C. & Brewer, Noel T., 2017. "Social identity and support for counteracting tobacco company marketing that targets vulnerable populations," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 136-141.
    7. Masters, Ryan K. & Link, Bruce G. & Phelan, Jo C., 2015. "Trends in education gradients of ‘preventable’ mortality: A test of fundamental cause theory," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 19-28.
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