Disparities in Emergency Respiratory Care Admissions Highlighted by UK Research
An analysis of NHS admissions data from November, conducted by Asthma + Lung UK, reveals significant health disparities related to respiratory care in England. People from the most deprived backgrounds are 56% more likely to be admitted for emergency respiratory care and 62% more likely to be readmitted within 39 days compared to less deprived groups.
Those living in deprived areas are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized for respiratory conditions, including COPD, which accounts for over 20,000 deaths annually in England. COPD encompasses chronic bronchitis and emphysema, with the highest admission rates per population noted in deprived areas such as Blackpool, Manchester, Hastings, and Burnley.
Experts have described these findings as a stark and avoidable health injustice. They argue that addressing deprivation gaps could prevent approximately half a million respiratory admissions each year. Recommended interventions to improve outcomes include ensuring timely diagnosis, providing smoking cessation support, offering pulmonary rehabilitation, improving air quality, and delivering properly resourced care services.
