This data shows premature deaths (Age under 75) from Respiratory Disease, numbers and rates by gender, as 3-year moving-averages.
Smoking is the major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the major Respiratory diseases. COPD (which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema) results in many hospital admissions. Respiratory diseases can also be caused by environmental factors (such as pollution, or housing conditions) and influenza. Respiratory disease mortality rates show a socio-economic gradient.
Directly Age-Standardised Rates (DASR) are shown in the data, where numbers are sufficient, so that death rates can be directly compared between areas. The DASR calculation applies Age-specific rates to a Standard (European) population to cancel out possible effects on crude rates due to different age structures among populations, thus enabling direct comparisons of rates.
A limitation on using mortalities as a proxy for prevalence of health conditions is that mortalities may give an incomplete view of health conditions in an area, as ill-health might not lead to premature death.
Data source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) indicator 4.07i. This data is updated annually.