The mortality rate of male smokers who died from mainly cancer-related causes was 1.6 times higher than nonsmoking males, indicating that not smoking could have prevented one in five of those deaths, according to a recent health ministry report.
The study by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry tracked the histories of 41,484 people -- identified as past smokers, current smokers and nonsmokers -- in four regions across the country over a 10-year period from 1990 to 1999, taking into consideration other lifestyle habits such as alcohol consumption.
Researchers said the study "provides an important evaluation of the impact of cigarette smoking on mortality adjusted for age, drinking habits, dietary habits, physical activity and body mass index in middle-aged Japanese.