Lancet: Global cancer: overcoming the narrative of despondency

“It is easy to become despondent about global cancer. Feb 4 marks World Cancer Day, and renewed calls to “close the cancer care gap”. But the worldwide inequities in cancer care and control are deeply rooted… Robust taxation and regulation to tackle the commercial determinants of health that drive cancer burden—primarily related to tobacco, alcohol, and junk food—is essential. Health promotion and education can prevent illness and raise awareness to help catch disease early… Following a 2005 World Health Assembly resolution, each country has been encouraged to prepare a national plan for cancer control… But while more than 150 countries now have such plans, an analysis from 2018 shows that quality varies wildly. 10% had no strategy for tobacco control… The impact of cancer on societies is unavoidable. NCDs [non-communicable diseases] are becoming the increasingly dominant health challenge for many low-income and middle-income countries, with cancer a rising priority. The urgency will only accelerate… Political legacies and reputations will depend on how the question of cancer is answered.”

Spain: Deceptive THR Summit in Peril; UK: Tighter Vape Regulations

“A "congress" scheduled for King Juan Carlos University that aims to position electronic cigarettes at the center of academic and scientific debate about the weapons used in the fight against smoking has led to a crisis behind the scenes in recent days in which the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health have gotten involved, and which has put the future of the event at risk, as confirmed to EL PAÍS by the parties involved. The THR [Tobacco Harm Reduction] Summit Spain 2023 is scheduled for February 23^rd in Madrid with the title ‘Opportunities in the fight against smoking: a global scientific vision’… King Juan Carlos University has decided to distance itself from the event. The rector will no longer attend and has asked the rest of the organizers to withdraw their logo from all documentation and is studying whether he can prevent the congress from being held on University premises.” [Oriol Guell. Sanidad y la OMS ponen en jaque un gran congreso favorable a los cigarrillos electrónicos previsto en Madrid (Health Ministry and WHO place in peril a major pro e-cigarette conference scheduled for Madrid), El País. Ed. Note: I’ve lightly edited some sections of the El País article but recommend the Google Translate full text as the piece gives a good and detailed overview of the THR crowd machinations not reflected above.]

“Vapes should be taxed and displayed in plain packaging behind the counter to reduce their popularity among children, health campaigners and councils have warned. To tackle the rapidly growing popularity among children and young people, Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) is calling on Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, to set out a £4 excise tax on single disposable vapes on top of the usual £4.99 price. The Local Government Association (LGA) is also requesting action, urging ministers to tighten regulation on the display and marketing of vaping products to match tobacco.” [Rachel Hall. UK campaigners call for tighter regulations on vapes to match tobacco, The Guardian. See also: Disposable Electronic Cigarettes (Prohibition of Sale). First Reading, Hansard. Ed. Note: Given the outlier, pro-vaping past positions from ASH (London) and many UK authorities, this is welcome news, however belated.]

“Maternal snuff use was associated with increased risks of post neonatal mortality, SIDS [Sudden Infant Death Syndrome], and SUID [Sudden Unexpected Infant Death]. Nicotine is the common substance in cigarette smoke and snuff. These findings support the hypothesis that nicotine contributes to an elevated risk of SIDS… Snuff use in early pregnancy was associated with a more than tripled risk of SIDS, aOR 3.70 (95% CI: 2.06–6.65) compared to that of nonuse. Maternal smoking was also associated with higher risk of SIDS, aORs were 4.31 (95% CI: 3.26–5.70) and 7.03 (95% CI: 5.04–9.79) for moderate and heavy smoking, respectively. Maternal snuff use was associated with an almost tripled risk of SUID, aOR 2.90 (95% CI: 1.75–4.80). Maternal smoking was also associated with higher risk of SUID, with aORs 3.20 (95% CI: 2.53–4.05) and 5.44 (95% CI: 4.10–7.22) for moderate and heavy smoking, respectively.”

Association of maternal snuff use and smoking with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: a national register study

Pediatric Research

Published: 09 February 2023

Anna Gunnerbeck, Cecilia Lundholm, Samuel Rhedin, Ayoub Mitha, Ruoqing Chen, Brian M. D’Onofrio & Catarina Almqvist

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-022-02463-4

Note: Open Access.

Related PR:

Nicotine exposure during pregnancy may increase risk of sudden infant death

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/978827

“Overall, 62.3% of adults [6,455 survey participants] supported a policy to prohibit the sale of menthol cigarettes… Nearly two-thirds of adults supported prohibiting menthol cigarette sales, while more than half of adults [57.3% of respondents] supported prohibiting all tobacco product sales. Support for these policies was similar, which may be explained by general support for tobacco retail policies. Policy support varied by certain demographic characteristics and current tobacco product use… Although support for both policies was lower among people who reported current tobacco product use compared with those who did not, more than one-third of respondents who currently smoked cigarettes or menthol cigarettes still supported prohibiting menthol cigarette sales, and more than one-quarter of these respondents supported prohibiting all tobacco product sales.”

RESEARCH BRIEF

Prev Chronic Dis 2023;20:22Support for Policies to Prohibit the Sale of Menthol Cigarettes and All Tobacco Products Among Adults, 20210128.

Volume 20 — February 2, 2023

Al-Shawaf M, Grooms KN, Mahoney M, Buchanan Lunsford N, Lawrence Kittner D.

https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2023/22_0128.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2023/pdf/22_0128.pdf

Note: Open Access.