Global tobacco surveys: information for action by cardiologists

Gaurav Kumar; Sailesh Mohan; Lalit Yadav; Monika Arora

doi:10.1016/j.gheart.2012.06.005

Global tobacco surveys: information for action by cardiologists

Glob Heart. 2012 Jul;7(2):99-105. doi: 10.1016/j.gheart.2012.06.005.

Authors

Gaurav Kumar¹, Sailesh Mohan², Lalit Yadav¹, Monika Arora³

Affiliations

¹ Project STEPS, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India.
² Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India.
³ Health Promotion and Tobacco Control, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India.

PMID: 25691305
DOI: 10.1016/j.gheart.2012.06.005

Abstract

Critical to health promotion is surveillance of tobacco use that is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The objective of this paper is to analyze information from global tobacco surveys as relevant for CVD prevention and, hence, for cardiologists implying their role in clinical and policy settings for advancing tobacco control. This article uses MPOWER strategy as a framework to discuss information available from The Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS) established in 1998. Data underline the need for cardiologists to 1) step up their efforts in promoting and providing cessation services in clinical settings; 2) become tobacco control advocates and support policy implementation in their countries; 3) raise patient and community awareness of harm caused by tobacco use and SHS exposure to health; 4) undertake policy relevant research where required; and 5) support national governments in effective implementation of provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).