Chewing tobacco caused 250,000 deaths in 2023, study finds

A study published in Lancet Global Health by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reveals that chewing tobacco caused approximately 250,000 deaths worldwide in 2023. The research, part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, analyzed data from 204 countries and territories spanning from 1990 to 2023.

South Asia is identified as the epicenter of the crisis. In 2023, the region recorded roughly 210,000 deaths, accounting for about 84% of the global total. In India alone, an estimated 105 million people use chewing tobacco regularly, representing over two-thirds of global users. Other heavily affected countries include Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Nepal.

Researchers noted that while smoking rates have declined in many areas, chewing tobacco use has remained stubbornly high, with no significant global decrease in users since 1990 and increases in 24 countries. Stroke was identified as the leading cause of health loss related to chewing tobacco, followed by lip and oral cavity cancers.