Introduction: The aim of this review is to give an overview on tobacco consumption in France and to describe the mortality and the morbidity related to smoking.
State of art: Following the increase of tobacco prices in 2002-2003, the prevalence of smoking was estimated to 30% in 2004 in France. Tobacco smoking leads to 66,000 deaths annually in France: 59,000 among men and 7 000 among women. Three groups of diseases are linked with smoking: cancers, cardio-vascular diseases and chronic lung diseases. A relation was also established with gravidic or osteoporotic complications. Passive smoking is also involved in numerous diseases such as lung cancer, coronary diseases and strokes.
Perspectives: Smoking cessation conducts to a progressive decrease in morbidity risk. A functional improvement is obtained for patients suffering from chronic lung diseases.
Conclusions: Effective smoking cessation treatments are available and should be systematically offered to smokers.