@article{Rostron_46_31,
author = {Rostron, Brian L. and Chang, Cindy M. and Davis Lynn, Brittny C. and Ren, Chunfeng and Salazar, Esther and Ambrose, Bridget K.},
title={{The contribution of smoking-attributable mortality to differences in mortality and life expectancy among US African-American and white adults, 2000–2019}},
journal = {Demographic Research},
volume = {46},
number = {31},
pages = {905--918},
doi = {10.4054/DemRes.2022.46.31},
year = {2022},
abstract = {Background: The role of smoking in racial disparities in mortality and life expectancy in the United States has been examined previously, but up-to-date estimates are generally unavailable, even though smoking prevalence has declined in recent decades. 

Objective: We estimate the contribution of smoking-attributable mortality to observed differences in mortality and life expectancy for US African-American and white adults from 2000–2019. 

Methods: The indirect Preston–Glei–Wilmoth method was used with national vital statistics and population data and nationally representative never-smoker lung cancer death rates to estimate the smoking-attributable fraction (SAF) of deaths in the United States by sex-race group from 2000–2019. Mortality rates without smoking-attributable mortality were used to estimate life expectancy at age 50 (e_50) by group during the period. 

Results: African-American men had the highest estimated SAF during the period, beginning at 26.4% (95% CI:25.0%–27.8%) in 2000 and ending at 12.1% (95% CI:11.4%–12.8%) in 2019. The proportion of the difference in e_50 for white and African-American men that was due to smoking decreased from 27.7% to 14.8%. For African-American and white women, the estimated differences in e_50 without smoking-attributable mortality were similar to observed differences. 

Conclusions: Smoking continues to contribute to racial disparities in mortality and life expectancy among men in the United States. 

Contribution: We present updated estimates of the contribution of smoking to mortality differences in the United States using nationally representative data sources. },
URL = {https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol46/31/},
eprint = {https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol46/31/46-31.pdf}
}