An analysis of NHS data on hospital admissions between April 2002 and November 2010, revealed that the introduction of smoke-free legislation in England was immediately followed by a fall in the number of children admitted to hospital with asthma symptoms.
There were 6,802 fewer children admitted to hospital with asthma symtoms three years after the smoking ban was introduced in England.
The researchers found that before the ban on smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces was implemented in July 2007, hospital admissions for children suffering a severe asthma attack were increasing by 2.2 per cent per year, peaking at 26,969 admissions in 2006/07.
However, after the law came into effect, the trend reversed immediately with lower admission rates among boys and girls of all ages.
In the first year after the smoking ban, there was a 12.3 per cent fall in admissions for childhood asthma.
The authors say the effect was equivalent to 6,802 fewer admissions in the first three years of the legislation, based on a 6 per cent fall in admissions over the following two years.
Dr Christopher Millett from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, who led the study, said, ‘There is already evidence that eliminating smoking from public places has resulted in substantial population health benefits in England.
‘Previous research has also suggested that the smoke-free law changed people’s attitudes about exposing others to second-hand smoke and led more people to abstain from smoking voluntarily ay home and in cars. We think that exposing children to less second-hand smoke in these settings probably played an important role in reducing asthma attacks.’
He added, ‘The findings are good news for England, and they should encourage countries where public smoking is permitted to consider introducing similar legislation.’
Emily Humphreys, head of policy and public affairs at Asthma UK, said, ‘It’s great to see growing evidence of the positive impact of smoke-free legislation. This is something we campaigned for, so it is particularly encouraging that there has been a fall in children’s hospital admissions for asthma since its introduction. We have long known that smoking and second hand smoke are harmful, they not only trigger asthma attacks which put children in hospital but can even cause them to develop the condition. We’ve seen the benefits of reducing second-hand smoke exposure, now we need to do more to prevent children and young people from taking up smoking by introducing plain packaging for tobacco.’
The study, 'Hospital admissions for childhood asthma after smoke-free legislation in England', is published online in the American Academy of Paediatrics journal.
