Nieuwe wetenschappelijke argumenten voor het verder terugdringen van tabaksgebruik, ook in horecagelegenheden

- The prohibition of smoking in public places that has been implemented in various European countries has led to a noticeable decrease in the number of hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction. This effect became manifest within one year after the adoption of the measure. A significant proportion of the benefit can probably be ascribed to the reduction of passive smoking. The recently published INTERHEART study is a case-control study involving approximately 12,500 patients who had been admitted for an acute myocardial infarction and approximately 14,500 apparently healthy controls. The study was carried out in 52 countries and reveals that an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction as the result of tobacco use can be seen in all investigated countries and races. Smoking as well as the chewing or sniffing of tobacco are associated with an increased risk; there is also a clear proportional relationship between the level of tobacco use and the degree of risk. Moreover, passive smoking was again shown to be an important and avoidable cause of acute myocardial infarction. In the Netherlands, smoking in public buildings has been prohibited since 1990, with the exception of the hotel, restaurant and catering industry. It would be a good thing if this exception were eliminated in our country as well.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2007;151:167-8