MMWR News Synopsis for May 29, 2014

Cigarette Prices and Tobacco Use After a Tobacco Tax Increase — Turkey, 2008–2012

CDC Media Relations
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This report adds to the body of evidence that raising the prices of tobacco products can reduce tobacco use in low- and middle-income countries, where most of the global tobacco-related disease burden is expected to occur. After a 2010 increase in tobacco taxes in Turkey, a middle-income country, the average price paid for cigarettes increased, cigarettes became less affordable, and a statistically significant reduction in smoking rates occurred. According to data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, the prevalence of cigarette smoking in Turkey dropped from 30.1 percent in 2008 to 25.7 percent in 2012. The largest reduction in cigarette smoking was among persons with lower wealth. These survey results establish a link between a tobacco price increase and a decline in tobacco use, and show the potential of tobacco taxes and prices to help reduce health disparities by lowering smoking prevalence at a higher rate in vulnerable populations. During this time, Turkey also implemented a comprehensive tobacco control program that included banning smoking in public places, banning advertising, and introducing graphic health warnings.

Million Hearts: Prevalence of Leading Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors — United States, 2005–2012

CDC Media Relations
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Although trends in some Million Hearts measures are encouraging, additional efforts by the general public and healthcare providers are needed to reduce cardiovascular risk factors and to reach the goal of preventing one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. Recently analyzed data show some encouraging improvements in Americans’ cardiovascular risk factors and suggest that continued efforts nationwide could prevent many more heart attacks and strokes. The findings focus on community and clinical prevention strategies that help encourage healthy behaviors and improve outcomes for patients – approaches emphasized by Million Hearts, a national initiative begun in 2011 and dedicated to preventing one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. These strategies include community-level efforts that encourage reduced sodium consumption and tobacco use, as well as clinical-level efforts that make it easy for patients to adopt the Million Hearts “ABCS” of cardiovascular health: aspirin for people are risk for another heart attack or stroke, blood pressure control, cholesterol management and smoking cessation.

Progress Toward Polio Eradication — Worldwide, 2013–2014

CDC Media Relations
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At this critical time for polio eradication, a global coordinated effort is crucial to 1) maintain current gains, 2) prevent outbreaks of polio into fragile states, and 3) to complete polio eradication. These efforts will help ensure that every child now and in the future has the opportunity to be free of polio. By 2012, a >99 percent reduction in polio cases had occurred since 1988. But with wild poliovirus still circulating, the world’s health ministers recently declared completion of polio eradication to be a programmatic emergency. In the three countries where the spread of wild poliovirus has never been stopped — Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan — fewer communities were affected by polio in 2013 than in 2012, particularly in Afghanistan and Nigeria. However, polio spread outside of these countries in 2013 and caused outbreaks in five countries in Africa and the Middle East, spreading to two additional countries in 2014 to date. Because of limitations in access and security, the number of cases in Pakistan has increased from 2012 to 2013. WHO has declared the international spread of wild poliovirus in 2014 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES