Irish death rate from lung diseases twice European average

The proportion of Irish people who die from lung diseases like cancer, TB, pneumonia, asthma and cystic fibrosis is more than twice the European average, according to a new study published today.

The study by the Lung and Asthma Information Agency at St George's University of London says 106 out of every 100,000 Irish people die from such diseases.

This compares to a European average of 54 out of every 100,000.

Ireland's death rate from lung diseases is the third highest of the countries involved in the study, behind the former Soviet states of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.