LONDON, 2025-12-23 08:00:00 – People from the poorest backgrounds in England are significantly more likely to be hospitalized for emergency care related to serious lung conditions, according to new research.
A study by Asthma + Lung UK found that individuals from the most deprived areas of England face a disproportionately higher risk of emergency respiratory hospital admissions adn readmissions, exacerbating existing pressures on the National Health Service as it braces for a possibly severe winter crisis.
- People from the most deprived areas in England are 56% more likely to be admitted to hospital for emergency respiratory care.
- Those in deprived areas are 62% more likely to be readmitted to hospital within 39 days of an emergency admission.
- The highest rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) admissions are concentrated in areas like Blackpool, Manchester, Hastings, and Burnley.
Analysis of National Health Service (NHS) admissions data for November revealed that people from the most deprived backgrounds were 56% more likely to be admitted for emergency care, Asthma + Lung UK found. The research also showed these individuals were 62% more likely to be readmitted within 39 days of an emergency admission, a factor linked to an increased risk of death.
The study further indicated that people living in deprived areas were almost twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for a respiratory condition. Experts are calling for urgent action to address what they describe as a “postcode lottery” in respiratory healthcare.
COPD Disparities
the highest rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) admissions per population are found in deprived areas, including Blackpool, Manchester, Hastings, and Burnley. COPD, a group of lung diseases causing breathing difficulties, claims over 20,000 lives annually in England.
Dr. Hugo Farne, a respiratory consultant at imperial College London, stated the findings “lay bare a stark and avoidable injustice in respiratory health.” He added,”The fact that nearly half a million respiratory admissions could be avoided each year if deprivation gaps were closed shoudl be a wake-up call.”
According to Dr. Farne, effective interventions such as timely diagnosis, smoking cessation support, pulmonary rehabilitation, clean air initiatives, and well-resourced community respiratory services are often least accessible in the areas most burdened by these conditions.
NHS Winter Crisis
The findings come as the NHS anticipates its “worst-ever winter crisis,” with rising flu cases adding to existing pressures. NHS England data released Thursday showed an average of 3,140 people in hospital with flu each day by the end of last week, an 18% increase from the previous week. In comparison,the average was 2,629 patients at the same time last year and 648 in 2023.
Sarah Sleet, the chief executive of Asthma + Lung UK, said, “Many patients now in hospital with flu complications will have underlying lung conditions like COPD and shockingly, those from the lowest income groups will be more likely to lose their lives this winter.”
Sleet explained that factors like poor housing, smoking, and exposure to air pollution increase the risk of developing COPD, but deprivation also influences the disease’s progression. She emphasized that delayed diagnosis and inadequate care are central to the problem, with vital diagnostic tests frequently enough unavailable in poorer, more populated areas.
“Lung health is in a critical state in this country, and we know what changes need to be made, they just need implementing – which is why we need a dedicated national strategy to improve respiratory outcomes,” Sleet said.
Previous analysis of NHS figures has shown that serious breathing problems, including COPD, lead to more emergency hospital admissions than any other medical condition.
NHS England has been approached for comment.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by The Guardian and added independent analysis and context.
