Medical Costs of Nonsmoking Women and Children in a Town of Miyagi

Abstract

To know the differences in utilization of medical care and medical costs among children and nonsmoking women depending on the states of smoking of other household members, the records of a health survey conducted in a town of Miyagi in 1987 were linked to the medical insurance records. The rates of medical care use and medical costs among nonsmoking women in nonsmoking households were almost the same as those in smoking households. Children in smoking households had medical care more often than those in nonsmoking households (74.1% vs. 56.4%) and the difference in the medical costs was also observed (¥33, 713 vs. ¥26, 558). The costs were almost correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked in the home. © 1988, Tohoku University Medical Press. All rights reserved.