Objective To quantitatively evaluate lung cancer deaths, potential life lost, and labor loss attributable to smoke exposure in Shanghai residents aged 35 years and above using population attributable health effect evaluation method, and to provide scientific evidence for making public health policy.

Methods Based on the data of 2013 Shanghai Non-communicable Disease and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the relative risk of tobacco exposure from the Global Burden of Disease Study, we calculated the number of lung cancer deaths attributable to smoke exposure and its years of potential life lost (YPLL) and labor loss.

Results In 2013, there were 5 998 lung cancer deaths attributable to smoking among the residents aged 35 years and above in Shanghai, accounting for 64.46% of the total lung cancer deaths (86.25% for male, 12.94% for female). YPLL attributable to smoking was 85979 person years, and the index of life lost was 14.33 years, higher in female (16.19 years) than in male (14.22 years); the labor loss was 13 428 person years, and its average loss in male was lower than in female (7.08 vs. 10.48 years). Meanwhile, there were 395 lung cancer deaths attributable to secondhand smoke exposure, accounting for 13.10% of the total lung cancer deaths (13.50% for male, 12.99% for female). YPLL attributable to secondhand smoke exposure was 6481 person years, and the index of life lost was 16.41 years (11.45 years for male, 17.79 years for female); the labor loss was 988 person years, and its average loss was 6.5 and 7.8 years in men and women respectively.

Conclusion The number of lung cancer deaths attributable to smoke exposure is large in Shanghai and its potential life lost and average labor loss are more serious in female than in male. It is suggested that more efforts should be made to strengthen the tobacco control in public places, as well as the prevention of exposure to secondhand smoke at home.