Respiratory disease

Published: July 2025

Introduction

Respiratory diseases denote a range of conditions affecting the airways and lung function. Respiratory disease which will be considered here include asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Risk factors and exacerbations such as air pollution and environmental features, smoking, flu, COVID-19 and other occupational exposures will also be briefly outlined in relation to their impact on respiratory diseases.

Asthma is considered a common lung condition that affects people of all ages. It is characterised as causing any combination of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness due to inflammation and narrowing of airways in the lungs. Symptoms of asthma can be managed using inhalers and avoiding triggers in order to allow people with the condition to lead a healthy life.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to diseases that cause breathing difficulties such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Headlines

  • Wakefield has a higher prevalence of asthma and COPD compared to the England average.
  • People most likely to be diagnosed with a respiratory disease are those living in the most deprived areas, older age groups and those with White British ethnicity.
  • Asthma is more prevalent in females, whereas COPD is more prevalent in males.
  • Wakefield has higher respiratory disease mortality rates compared to the England average.
  • Respiratory disease mortality rates are higher among those living in the most deprived areas and among males.

How does Wakefield compare…

This section contains the latest nationally published data from OHID Fingertips – Respiratory Disease profile.

Compared to national levels, Wakefield District has:

  • Higher prevalence of asthma and COPD. In recent years, the COPD prevalence has been declining for Wakefield District and nationally.
  • Higher mortality rates from respiratory diseases for people of all ages and under 75 years alike, with no significant changes being observed since the previous year.

What are the differences within Wakefield district?

Respiratory disease prevalence

This section shows how the prevalence of respiratory disease varies between different populations within Wakefield District.

  • Asthma (6+) is more prevalent among:
    • people aged 50-89 (9.8%-10.7%), compared to district average (7.8%)
    • people living in the most deprived areas (87.2 per 1,000), compared to those living in the least deprived areas (68.1 per 1,000)
    • people with White British ethnicity (88.8 per 1,000), compared to other ethnic groups (27.9 per 1,000)
    • females (91.0 per 1,000), compared to males (65.3 per 1,000)
  • COPD (all ages) is more prevalent among:
    • people aged 60-90+ (6.6%-12.9%), compared to district average (2.8%)
    • people living in the most deprived areas (48.9 per 1,000), compared to those living in the least deprived areas (12.4 per 1,000)
    • people with White British ethnicity (30.4 per 1,000), compared to other ethnic groups (4.5 per 1,000)
    • males (29.8 per 1,000), compared to females (27.1 per 1,000)

The following interactive dashboard can be used to explore variation in respiratory disease prevalence by different breakdowns.

Respiratory disease mortality

This section shows how population health outcomes differ within Wakefield District for those with respiratory diseases.

  • Respiratory disease mortality rates are higher among:
    • people living in the most deprived areas (238.6 per 100,000), compared to those living in the least deprived areas (74.2 per 100,000)
    • males (174.9 per 100,000), compared to females (126.3 per 100,000)

The following interactive dashboard can be used to explore variation in respiratory disease mortality rates by different breakdowns.

Who is typically affected?

Asthma

While genetics, environmental or external factors have been suggested to have links as causing asthma, there is no definitive evidence as to what causes asthma.

Exposure to smoke and smoking during pregnancy both influence the chances of developing asthma. Studies have shown exposure to second hand smoke to have an increased risk of developing asthma. 

The chart below shows the percentage of patients with asthma (age 6-19 years) who have a smoking status or exposure to second-hand smoke in the preceding 12 months. In 2023/24, this figure was 77.2% and was similar to national averages.

Other factors include:

  • Family history
  • Allergies
  • Childhood lung infections
  • Occupational exposure, such as chemicals, dust, fumes

COPD

COPD tends to develop later on and is more prevalent among middle-aged or older adults.

Factors which have been shown to have causal links with COPD include:

  • Smoking
  • Genetics
  • Occupational exposure, such as dust and fumes

What can trigger symptoms?

Asthma

Asthma related triggers can cause inflammation of airways upon coming into contact with a trigger.

Each person’s asthma symptoms can be triggered by different things, meaning that not all who have asthma will experience symptoms in response to all triggers.

Common triggers include:

COPD

COPD exacerbations involve a worsening of symptoms like breathlessness, difficulties breathing or sleeping and changes in the colour or amount of sputum.

The most common triggers include:

  • Respiratory infections such as colds, flu or pneumonia
  • Environmental factors such as air pollution, smoke, dust or weather changes
  • Smoking | both active and passive
  • Poor management of COPD through missed medication or incorrect inhaler use

References

  1. WHO asthma, May 2024. URL: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma
  2. NHS Conditions – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Apr 2023. URL: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/
  3. NHS Conditions – Asthma, Apr 2021. URL: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/
  4. Smoking is the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (who.int)
  5. Asthma and Cigarette Smoking: A Review of the Empirical Literature: Journal of Asthma: Vol 47, No 4 (tandfonline.com)
  6. Corsello, Giovanni, and M. D. Stefania La Grutta. “Smoke exposure as a risk factor for asthma in childhood: a review of current evidence.” Allergy Asthma Proc. Vol. 35. No. 6. 2014.