On February 22, 2013, The Local reported that, "... Another study showed an 8.6-percent reduction in heart attacks generally, since the introduction during 2007 and 2008 of a ban on smoking in many public places. This was the conclusion of work conducted last year by the Kiel Institute for Therapy and Health Research based on data from the 3.7 million people insured by the DAK statutory insurer. Those bans, based on a law protecting employees from having to be in smoky workplaces, prevented more than 35,000 serious cardio-vascular illnesses, the study suggested. These would have cost around €150 million in treatment."
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| Schmucker, J.; Wienbergen, H.; Seide, S.; Fiehn, E.; Fach, A.; Wurmann-Busch, B.; Gohlke, H.; Gunther, K.; Ahrens, W.; Hambrecht, R., "Smoking ban in public areas is associated with a reduced incidence of hospital admissions due to ST-elevation myocardial infarctions in non-smokers: results trom the BREMEN STEMI REGISTRY," European Journal of Preventive Cardiology [Epub ahead of print], April 30, 2013. |
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In April 2013, a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology compared heart attack rates in Bremen, Germany, before and after the late 2007 implementation of a smokefree air law. The study concluded that, "...a significant decline of hospital admissions due to STEMIs in non-smokers was observed after the smoking ban in public areas came into force. No reduction of STEMI-related admissions was found in smokers. These results may be explained by the protection of non-smokers from passive smoking and the absence of such an effect in smokers by the dominant effect of active smoking." |
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| Sargent, J.D.; Demidenko, E.; Malenka, D.J.; Li, Z.; Gohlke, H.; Hanewinkel, R., "Smoking restrictions and hospitalization for acute coronary events in Germany," Clinical Research in Cardiology 101(3): 227-235, 2012. |
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In 2012, a study published in Clinical Research in Cardiology, concluded that, "Partial smoking restrictions in Germany were followed by reductions in hospitalization for angina pectoris and AMI, declines that continued through 1 year following these laws and resulted in substantial cost savings. Strengthening the laws could further reduce morbidity and costs from acute coronary syndromes in Germany." |
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| Heidrich, J.; Wellmann, J.; Heuschmann, P.U.; Kraywinkel, K.; Keil, U., "Mortality and morbidity from coronary heart disease attributable to passive smoking," European Heart Journal [Epub ahead of print], May 15, 2007. |
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A study published online on May 15, 2007 in the European Heart Journal concluded "Using an evidence-based approach reveals a substantial burden of passive smoking in terms of CHD mortality and morbidity reflected by six CHD deaths and 10 incident CHD cases every day in Germany." |