Global Study Finds Gaps in Public Awareness of Smoking‑Related Health Risks

An international analysis of more than 240,000 adults across 46 countries, published in BMJ Open, shows that while over 90% of smokers link cigarettes to lung cancer, awareness of other serious conditions is lower. About 85% recognized the link to heart disease and 75% to stroke, and knowledge of second‑hand smoke causing heart disease fell to roughly 62%‑73%.

A separate WHO‑led assessment of 185 nations estimated that 7.1 million new cancer cases in 2022 were tied to preventable factors, with tobacco accounting for roughly 15% of all cancers and alcohol for about 3%. The report highlights the broad range of cancers linked to smoking, including bladder, kidney, liver and pancreatic tumours, and stresses the importance of comprehensive public‑health messaging beyond lung cancer.

Both studies underscore the need for stronger education on the full spectrum of smoking‑related health risks and for policies that reduce exposure to tobacco smoke.