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According to data analysis of the World Health Organization, the number of deaths due to all respiratory diseases, with the exception of lung cancer, was higher than that of the 14 countries of the world. European Union and Norway, Canada, Australia and the United States.
The total number of deaths due to respiratory diseases decreased in all these countries between 1985 and 2015, according to the analysis published Wednesday in the BMJ. Mortality among men was reduced during this period, but remained about the same for women.
Respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, known as COPD, are classified as susceptible diseases, explains Dr. Justin Salciccioli, resident and clinical researcher at Harvard Medical School and principal investigator for the analysis. "The relevance of this is that with effective, timely and appropriate health care delivery, these deaths should be preventable," he added.
The international research team led by Salciccioli goes beyond previous studies to determine whether these trends persist over a longer period and over a broad category of diseases.
In the United Kingdom, the number of deaths from respiratory diseases between 1985 and 2015 increased from 151 per 100,000 men to 89; for women, the results increased from 67 to 68 per 100,000, according to the new study.
In the other countries studied, mortality rates for men fell from 108 to 69 per 100,000 during this period; rates for women increased from 35 to 37 per 100,000.
Salciccioli described national comparisons as "a big difference".
"This is one of the main reasons we have pursued this issue," he added.
The difference seems to affect a broader category of diseases that affect the lungs in general, according to Salciccioli.
"What is worrying is that it is a difference that persists over time rather than an absolute difference," he said.
Salciccioli explained that with regard to deaths among men with lung cancer, the UK is "as good if not better" than the majority of comparator countries.
The study shows an observational trend and is not able to determine why there is a difference in mortality rates, but it is possible that lifestyle factors such as smoking play a role, said Salciccioli.
Salciccioli hopes that this study will better understand what lies behind the differences between UK death rates and those of other countries.
Previous research has suggested that a high tobacco consumption in the UK could be related to differences in mortality from respiratory diseases. But, according to the study, smoking has decreased in the UK.
All the countries studied showed a decrease in male mortality due to respiratory problems, but no sign of a decrease in rates among women. Salciccioli thinks that this is due to "the legacy of smoking": Smoking rates in men were historically higher and their reduction was significantly improved. Salciccioli is not sure that smoking rates have been reduced as much in women as in men.
"These numbers are sad, but they are not surprising," said Dr. Penny Woods, executive director of the British Lung Foundation, who did not participate in the study. "We know that lung disease is the third leading cause of death in the UK after cancer and heart disease."
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