Chewing tobacco contributed to an estimated 251,000 deaths globally in 2023, according to a new study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).The analysis, part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) and published in The Lancet Global Health, found that more than 90% of the health burden was concentrated in 10 countries, with India accounting for the largest share."Chewing tobacco is not a uniform public health problem, and our findings show that a relatively small number of countries bear an overwhelming share of its health burden," said Gabriela Gil, lead author and research scientist at IHME.South Asia Bears 84% Of Global Deaths: India Leads Also read: Trying For A Baby? Tobacco Smoking Hurting Male And Female Fertility, Warns WHOSouth Asia accounted for an estimated 210,000 chewing tobacco-related deaths, or about 84% of the global total.Nearly 15% of people aged 15 and older in the region used chewing tobacco in 2023.The highest age-standardized prevalence was reported in:Palau: 24.4%Bangladesh: 23.4%Nepal: 17.5%India recorded the highest number of chewing tobacco-related deaths among both males and females.More than 90% of the male death and disability burden was concentrated in:IndiaBangladeshChinaPakistanMyanmarUSNepalSri LankaPhilippinesMadagascarAmong females, the countries were:IndiaBangladeshPakistanIndonesiaMyanmarChinaThailandCambodiaVietnamNepalChewing Tobacco Use Highest Among Elderly FemalesRead More: Trying to Quit Tobacco? Yoga Could Improve Your Chances, Suggests StudyGlobally, use was higher among males than females and increased with age before peaking at 60–64 years.In South Asia:Nearly 1 in 5 males used chewing tobacco.Around 1 in 10 females used it.Male use peaked at 60–64 years.Female use peaked at 80 years and older.Bangladesh showed a different pattern, with female use higher than male use across age groups older than 30."These findings show why chewing tobacco control cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach," said Dr. Emmanuela Gakidou, senior author and professor in the Department of Health Metrics Sciences at IHME. "Prevention and cessation strategies need to reflect how patterns of use differ by country, age and sex, as well as the cultural and social factors that shape tobacco use in each setting," Dr Gakidou added. Stroke, Oral Cancer Among Key Health Risks Researchers assessed chewing tobacco-related burden across six outcomes:StrokeLip and oral cavity cancerEsophageal cancerOther pharyngeal cancerLaryngeal cancerNasopharyngeal cancerStroke accounted for the largest share of health loss, at 55.9 disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) per 100,000 people, followed by lip and oral cavity cancer at 17.4 DALYs per 100,000.Chewing tobacco accounted for 17.3% of lip and oral cavity cancer DALYs globally, rising to 30.5% in South Asia.Global Burden More Than Doubled Since 1990Chewing tobacco-related DALYs increased 116% between 1990 and 2023, reaching 6.48 million. Of this:6.17 million years were lost to premature death.Total DALYs reached 6.48 million in 2023.The researchers noted that chewing tobacco has received less attention than smoked tobacco in global tobacco-control efforts.They said stronger prevention and cessation measures, tailored to age, sex, country and local patterns of use, are needed to reduce the burden.