Section II 
DR. BENOWITZ: He said that there was no evidence. 
DR. HOFFMANN: That may be the case, but that we have no evidence. 
DR. FREEMAN: I think we should respect those data because I think more 
than 100,000 people die each year from cardiac death due to smoking. 1 do 
not know the exact numbers, and that is a very significant point to argue 
that even smoking low-nicotine, low-tar cigarettes will not protect you as far 
as we know from dying from coronary heart disease. Is that a fair statement. 
Dr. Hoffmann? 
DR. HOFFMANN: No, I think we do not know. 
DR. FREEMAN: Let me narrow down the point. Are you saying that there is 
no distinction between the low-tar and -nicotine smokers and the high with 
respect to death from coronary disease? 
DR. HOFFMANN: There is no evidence. 
DR. FREEMAN: No evidence that there is a difference? 
DR. HOFFMANN: No evidence that 1 am aware of. We discussed it last 
night, and nobody came up with any, but there may be. 1 am not aware of it. 
DR. PETITTI: Since we are relying so heavily on the 1981 Surgeon General's 
report, and very few data have come out since then, 1 would like to read the 
statement specifically about cardiovascular disease: 
The overall changes in the composition of cigarettes that 
occurred during the last 10 or 15 years have not produced 
a clearly demonstrated effect on cardiovascular disease, and 
some studies suggest that a decreased risk of CHD may not have 
occurred. Evidence on the association between CHD and filter 
cigarettes is somewhat conflicting. One major study showed a 
reduction of 10 to 20 percent of coronary deaths among persons 
smoking lower tar and nicotine cigarettes as compared with 
those smoking higher yield cigarettes. 
That was the CPS-1 study, but other surveys have shown a slightly 
increased risk of coronary mortality in people who smoke filter cigarettes 
or those who smoke nonfilter cigarettes. Recent unpublished data from the 
Framingham study that were ultimately published do not show a lower CHD 
risk among smokers of filter cigarettes. It is not that there are no data. The 
data that exist show no association of smoking lower yield cigarettes with 
reduction in coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality. 
DR. FREEMAN: 1 think that is a very, very important point that ought to be 
factored into this discussion. Dr. Cohen? 
DR. COHEN: 1 was very pleased. Dr. Hoffmann, to hear you clarify an issue 
for me. 1 heard you say that we can inform people about lung cancer, at 
least. Now, lung cancer is a major issue for people, and what 1 am wondering 
is, since people use tar as a surrogate for relative harmfulness, might it make 
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