High prevalence rates are a particular problem with Bangladeshi men. Amongst South Asian men in Britain, 44% of Bangladeshis, 26% of Pakistanis and 23% of Indians smoke cigarettes. This contrasts with 27% of men in the general population. As with the general population, smoking rates vary with age.

Of those aged 55 years and over, 19% of Indian, 23% of Pakistani and 54% of Bangladeshi men are smokers. Bangladeshi men are the only group for whom smoking rates increase with age.

Smoking rates amongst South Asian women in Britain are generally low. Only 1% of Bangladeshi, 5% of Pakistani and 6% of Indian women smoke. This compares with 27% of women in the general population.

Smoking cessation (Health Education Authority, 2000)

Attempts at giving up smoking are generally high. Some 61% of Indian, 55% of Pakistani and 71% of Bangladeshi men who smoke have tried to quit smoking at least once.

However, success is limited. Only a third of Indian (35%) and a fifth of Pakistani (21%) and Bangladeshi men (19%) who had smoked regularly succeeded in giving up. This compares to just over half (54%) of the men who have smoked regularly in the general population. (Health Survey for England, 2001)

Chewing tobacco (Health Survey for England, 1999)

Amongst South Asians tobacco is most commonly chewed by adding it to paan. Paan consists of three basic ingredients; the betel leaf, thinly sliced nut of the Areca palm and lime paste. To these are added a range of ingredients one of which can be tobacco. The tobacco comes in the form of a paste known as zarda. The chewing of tobacco is a major risk factor for oral cancer. Tobacco chewing is most common amongst Bangladeshis. In this group, 19% of men and 26% of women chew tobacco. Amongst Indians, 6% of men and 2% of women chew tobacco. Amongst Pakistanis, only 2% of men and 2% of women chew tobacco. Tobacco chewing is particularly high amongst older Bangladeshi women: 43% of women aged 35-54 years and 56% of women aged over 55 years chew tobacco. Comparatively low levels are found amongst old Bangladeshi men: 23% of men aged 35-54 years and 28% of men aged 55 years and over chew tobacco.

Knowledge of health risks associated with smoking/chewing tobacco (Health Education Authority, 2000)

Knowledge of the main diseases associated with smoking is very poor across all three South Asian groups. Only a quarter of Indians (23%), Pakistanis (27%) and Bangladeshis (27%) associate smoking with heart disease. Some 52% of Indians, 47% of Pakistanis and 41% of Bangladeshis identify a link between smoking and lung cancer. Very few people associate smoking with respiratory diseases other than lung cancer (Indians 11%, Pakistanis 15% and Bangladeshis 12%).

The health of South Asians (Health Survey for England, 1999)

Smoking is a major risk factor for a number of health conditions that South Asians suffer from disproportionately. Compared to the general population, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are three to four times more likely, and Indians twice as likely, to describe their own health as bad or very bad. The rates of cardiovascular diseases (angina, heart attack, stroke, heart murmur, diabetes, high blood pressure) are 60-70% higher amongst Pakistani and Bangladeshi men than amongst men in the general population. Rates for Pakistani and Bangladeshi women are 40% higher than for women in general.

The rates of ischaemic heart disease (heart attack and angina) are 30% higher amongst South Asian men than amongst men in the general population.

Death rates from coronary heart disease are 38% higher amongst South Asian men than amongst men in the general population. In South Asian women, the excess is 43%.

For further information, visit the Department of Health website.

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