These researchers used a comparative risk assessment method to estimate the burden of disease attributable to second-hand smoke in NZ, in terms of deaths (for 2010) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (for 2006). Second-hand smoke was estimated to have caused 104 deaths in 2010, and led to the loss of 2,286 healthy years of life (DALYs) in 2006. Ischaemic heart disease accounted for the largest proportion of this health burden (1033 DALYs, 45% of DALYs). Most health loss in adults was fatal, particularly for ischaemic heart disease (86% fatal), stroke (79%) and lung cancer (98%). Children were disproportionately affected; they experienced 34% of the total health loss due to second-hand smoke in 2006, particularly from sudden unexplained death in infancy. Disparities in health impacts from second-hand smoke were also seen for Māori; they experienced five times the health loss from second-hand smoke as non-Māori, according to analyses that standardised for age differences.
