Major increase expected in people with breathing difficulties by 2020

HEALTH services throughout the country are being urged to plan for significant increases in the number of people with breathing difficulties over the next decade.

The number of adults in the Republic living with breathing difficulties in 2007 was estimated at almost 94,000. In 2020, the figures is expected to exceed 131,000, a 40% increase in less than 15 years.

Research by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) points out that nearly 47,000 adults in the North had serious breathing difficulties in 2007. By 2020, the number of sufferers in the region is expected to reach 56,000 — a 21% increase.

The condition, chronic airflow obstruction, is more common in deprived areas and reducing smoking is key to reducing the number of sufferers.

Chronic airflow obstruction is linked with other conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.

The health conditions are a leading and increasing cause of death, reduced quality of life and health inequalities.

IPH research analyst Steve Barron said the dramatic rise in chronic airflow obstruction would result in a significant increase in demand for already strained health and social care services. Lost productivity would also add to the economic burden.

“Unless we can address this rise in chronic airflow obstruction, increasing life expectancy may only add years of illness to our lives,” said Mr Barron.

HSE specialist in public health medicine, Marie O’Connor, said the research would be useful working to halt and even reverse the projected increases in such a leading cause of disability, death and health inequality.

Smoking is the main risk factor for chronic airflow obstruction, with an estimated 85% of sufferers having a history of cigarette smoking. Mr Barron said the most important interventions are to prevent people starting smoking and to support smokers in stopping.

“The ban on smoking in indoor public places and workplaces was a good first step and we should continue to build on this,” he said.

The institute believes more tobacco-control policies and programmes with a clear and consistent non-smoking message should be encouraged.

The research also show that chronic airflow obstruction that increases with age is more common among men than women.