Evaluating the DALY impact of disease associated with second-hand smoke exposure in different socio-demographic index regions

Secondhand smoke (SHS) continues to be a major global health risk, contributing to cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and respiratory illnesses. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study across 204 countries, this analysis examined the burden of SHS exposure through Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) across different socio-demographic regions. The findings show notable sex and regional disparities: ischemic heart disease caused a higher burden among males, while diabetes and stroke affected females more. COPD had the highest burden in lower-middle SDI regions, whereas high-income regions showed the lowest impact. Overall, the results highlight significant global inequalities in SHS-related disease burden and emphasize the need for stronger, targeted tobacco control and public health interventions.