Tobacco endgame intervention impacts on health gains and Māori:non-Māori health inequity: a simulation study of the Aotearoa-New Zealand Tobacco Action Plan

Abstract

ObjectiveTo estimate the health gains and Māori:non-Māori health inequality reductions of the Aotearoa/New Zealand Government’s proposed endgame strategy.DesignSimulation modelling: a Markov model to estimate future yearly smoking and vaping prevalence (for business-as-usual [BAU] and intervention scenarios) linked to a proportional multistate lifetable model with 16 tobacco-related diseases to estimate future morbidity and mortality rates, and health adjusted life years (HALYs).SettingAotearoa.ParticipantsPopulation alive in 2020 (5.08 million) simulated over the rest of their lifespan.Interventions1. Denicotinisation of all retail tobacco in 2023, 2. 1 plus media promotion, 3. 95% reduction in tobacco retail outlets in 2023, 4. a tobacco free-generation whereby people born in 2006 and later are never legally able to purchase tobacco, 5. combined package of 2, 3 and 4.Main Outcome MeasuresFuture smoking prevalence, deaths averted and HALYs by sex and ethnic group. Percent reduction in Māori:non-Māori all-cause mortality rate difference in 2040 under interventions compared to business as usual (BAU).ResultsThe combined package of strategies was estimated to reduce adult smoking prevalence from 31.8% in 2022 to 7.3% in 2025 for Māori, and 11.8% to 2.7% for non-Māori. The 5% smoking prevalence target was forecast to be achieved in 2026 and 2027 for Māori males and females, respectively.The HALY gains for the combined package (compared to BAU) over the population’s remaining lifespan was estimated to be 594,000 (95%UI: 443,000 to 738,000; 3% discount rate). The denicotinisation strategy alone achieved 97% of these HALYs, the retail strategy 19%, and tobacco-free generation 12%.The future per capita HALY gains for the combined package for Māori were estimated to be 4.75 and 2.14 times higher than for non-Māori females and males, respectively. The absolute difference between Māori and non-Māori all-cause mortality for 45+ year olds in 2040 was estimated to be 23.4% (19.1% to 27.6%) less for females under the combined package compared to BAU, and 9.5% (7.5% to 11.3%) less for males.ConclusionA tobacco endgame strategy, especially denicotinisation, could dramatically reduce health inequities.FundingNew Zealand Ministry of Health.Summary boxesWhat is already known on this topicModelling of health gains and health inequality reductions for some tobacco endgame strategies has been undertaken internationally, and specifically in Aotearoa (tobacco free generation policy, substantial reductions in the number of tobacco outlets including, a sinking lid that gradually phased out all tobacco supply between 2011 to 2025, restricting tobacco sales to pharmacies only with brief cessation advice provided to consumers). All modelling suggested that these interventions improved equity, of varying magnitude, in either smoking prevalence or health gain for Māori compared to non-Māori.Endgame modelling of denicotinisation has not been undertaken, alone or in combination with other interventions. The interplay of tobacco smoking and vaping has not been explicitly included in endgame modelling. The package of endgame strategies in the Aotearoa-New Zealand Government’s Smokefree Action Plan (Dec 2021) have not been modelled.What this study addsThe Government’s package (denicotinisation of retail tobacco, 95% reduction in the number of tobacco retail outlets; and a tobacco-free generation) if implemented in 2023 is forecast to achieve less than 5% smoking prevalence by 2025 for non-Māori, and by 2027 for Māori.Denicotinisation is estimated to achieve the majority of the health gains.A 95% retail outlet reduction and a tobacco-free generation, on their own, are unlikely to achieve a 5% smoking prevalence for any sex by ethnic groups until at least 2040.The combined package, compared to BAU, is estimated to reduce the Māori:non-Māori gap in 45+ year old all-cause mortality in 2040 by 22.9% (95% uncertainty interval 19.9% to 26.2%) for females and 9.6% (8.4% to 11.0%) males.

Commercial tobacco endgame themes in the Australian media from 2000 to 2021

“…12 Modelling suggests that endgame policies could rapidly and permanently reduce smoking prevalence, while also reducing health disparities. [13][14][15] Australia is a country with a prevalence target of <5% smoking prevalence by 2030, 16 17 but has yet to commit to any of the endgame policies described above. However, there has been movement towards endgame policies in the region.…”

“…TFG policies have potential to prevent whole generations of young people from commencing smoking and to reduce tobacco-related inequities among next generations, but modelling suggests they will not lead to rapid changes in smoking prevalence as they do not cater to existing cohorts of people who smoke. 15 Consequently, the challenge remains for endgame proponents to use the media to promote the benefits of policies such as mandating VLNC, or substantially reducing retail density, which will deliver benefits for everyone. Commitments to Closing the Gap in health and life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples provides leverage for the adoption of policies that will lead to more rapid progress in ending the commercial tobacco epidemic in Australia.…”