Use of multiple surveys to estimate mortality among never, current, and former smokers: changes over a 20-year interval.

Objectives: This study sought to demonstrate how data from publicly available large-scale cross-sectional health surveys can be combined to analyze changes in mortality risks among never, current, and former smokers.

Methods: Data from the 1966/68 and 1986 National Mortality Followback Surveys and the 1970 and 1987 National Health Interview Surveys were used to estimate the distribution of never, current, and former smokers among the US population at risk and decedents. Standardized mortality ratios and quotients of standardized mortality ratios were used to estimate mortality risks.

Results: Generally, during the period from 1966 through 1986, mortality rates in the United States for most causes of death declined among all smoking groups. However, mortality rates from respiratory diseases increased for current and former smokers.

Conclusions: The reported changes in never and current smoker mortality risks are similar in magnitude and direction to those reported in a previous study based on longitudinal data. The use of combined data from the National Mortality Followback Survey and the National Health Interview Survey offers several advantages as an epidemiological tool.