Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

Not only is lung disease the UK's third biggest killer disease area - after cardiovascular disease and non-respiratory cancers - but relatively little progress has been made in tackling it in the last 10 years. Whereas the number of people dying from cardiovascular disease has fallen significantly, the number of people dying from lung disease has barely changed. According to the British Lung Foundation, the UK now has the fourth highest lung disease mortality rate in Europe.

• By 2020 it is estimated that the prevalence of COPD in South Tyneside will rise to 4.3%, which equates to approximately a 1,000 additional people with COPD - this is a 17% increase,
• This increase is likely to place a significant pressure on the existing COPD care system leading to large increases in prescribing and admission costs. The system will have to adapt considerably to better manage this projected demand,
• Smoking prevalence continues to fall with South Tyneside now at 17%, statistically similar to that of the England average. Tobacco consumption has been found to be strongly predictive of COPD mortality.
• There is an estimated time-lag of approximately 15 years for males and 20 years for females between smoking and a COPD diagnosis,[1] therefore the legacy of high smoking prevalence in South Tyneside may continue to drive health care needs into the future.