BBC ONLINE 21 January 2013
Last updated at 05:00 GMT
Smoking restrictions came into force in 2007
Childhood asthma 'admissions down' after smoking ban
Smoking restrictions came into force in 2007
There
was a sharp fall in the number of children admitted to hospital with
severe asthma after smoke-free legislation was introduced in England,
say researchers.
A study showed a 12% drop in the first year after the law to stop smoking in enclosed public places came into force.
The authors say there is growing evidence that many people are opting for smoke-free homes as well.
Asthma UK says the findings are "encouraging".
Researchers at Imperial College in London looked at NHS figures going back to April 2002.
Presenting their findings in the journal Pediatrics, they said the number of children admitted to hospital with severe asthma attacks was rising by more than 2% a year before the restrictions were introduced in July 2007.
Taking that into account, they calculated the fall in admissions in the next 12 months was 12%, and a further 3% in each of the following two years. They say over the three-year period, this was equivalent of about 6,800 admissions.
The fall was seen among boys and girls of all ages, across wealthy and deprived neighbourhoods, in cities and in rural areas.
A study showed a 12% drop in the first year after the law to stop smoking in enclosed public places came into force.
The authors say there is growing evidence that many people are opting for smoke-free homes as well.
Asthma UK says the findings are "encouraging".
Researchers at Imperial College in London looked at NHS figures going back to April 2002.
Presenting their findings in the journal Pediatrics, they said the number of children admitted to hospital with severe asthma attacks was rising by more than 2% a year before the restrictions were introduced in July 2007.
Taking that into account, they calculated the fall in admissions in the next 12 months was 12%, and a further 3% in each of the following two years. They say over the three-year period, this was equivalent of about 6,800 admissions.
The fall was seen among boys and girls of all ages, across wealthy and deprived neighbourhoods, in cities and in rural areas.
'Unexpected' benefit
Prior to the smoke-free law much of the debate on the legislation centred on protection of bar workers from passive smoke.
At the time many critics said smokers would respond by lighting up more at home - harming the health of their families. But the authors of this study say there is growing evidence that more people are insisting on smoke-free homes.
The lead researcher, Prof Christopher Millett, said the legislation has prompted unexpected, but very welcome, changes in behaviour.
"We increasingly think it's because people are adopting smoke-free homes when these smoke-free laws are introduced and this is because they see the benefits of smoke-free laws in public places such as restaurants and they increasingly want to adopt them in their home.
"This benefits children because they're less likely to be exposed to second hand smoke."
These findings reinforce evidence on the impact of smoke-free legislation from studies in North America and Scotland, which also showed a fall in hospital admissions for children with severe asthma attacks. The law in England has also resulted in fewer admissions for heart attack.
At the time many critics said smokers would respond by lighting up more at home - harming the health of their families. But the authors of this study say there is growing evidence that more people are insisting on smoke-free homes.
The lead researcher, Prof Christopher Millett, said the legislation has prompted unexpected, but very welcome, changes in behaviour.
"We increasingly think it's because people are adopting smoke-free homes when these smoke-free laws are introduced and this is because they see the benefits of smoke-free laws in public places such as restaurants and they increasingly want to adopt them in their home.
"This benefits children because they're less likely to be exposed to second hand smoke."
These findings reinforce evidence on the impact of smoke-free legislation from studies in North America and Scotland, which also showed a fall in hospital admissions for children with severe asthma attacks. The law in England has also resulted in fewer admissions for heart attack.
'Particularly encouraging'
Emily Humphreys from the health charity, Asthma UK, welcomed
the findings: "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."
She said the need now was to do more to prevent children and young people from taking up smoking, and she repeated the charity's call for the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco.
"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."
She said the need now was to do more to prevent children and young people from taking up smoking, and she repeated the charity's call for the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco.
Comments
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Comment number 570.
StuffyDuffer
21st January 2013 - 14:22Those of you who are asking why Asthma rates have increased since the 1970's when parents smoking around children was common? Simple. Asthma was regularly misdiagnosed until quite recently (as happened to me for 30 years). Believe me, second hand smoke and Asthma are a terrible mix. -
Comment number 520.
Kid Chameleon
21st January 2013 - 13:29I'm a non-smoker who grew up with a father who smoked heavily until he quit when I was about 8 or 9. He never smoked in the house.
I was one of those who totally welcomed the public smoking ban, but have to agree with the majority of smokers in this forum in questioning just what this is supposed to have done to combat child asthma when the areas it affects have little to do with children... -
Comment number 436.
Mike from Brum
21st January 2013 - 12:45A reduction in the number of child asthma attacks is good news, whatever the reason. -
Comment number 401.
Baskey
21st January 2013 - 12:33Seems odd, years ago many more people used to smoke yet there was far less asthma.
I certianly agree that passive smoke is dangerous and I wouldnt want my kids anywhere near it however id guess the drop in asthma is more likely attributed to cleaner cars etc -
Comment number 97.
Remus
21st January 2013 - 9:43I'm an ex smoker but I don't see how a ban that mainly affected places (pubs, workplaces etc) where children don't spend a lot of time should have such a positive impact on children's health. Also, having lived in London, I suspect that traffic pollution causes more asthma than smoking ever could. -
Comment number 56.
Anne-Maria
21st January 2013 - 9:26Smokers have a right to smoke but they do not have a right to force other people, including their own children, to smoke. Asthma is a dangerous and scary illness and if figures are suggesting that asthma is improving then it has to be a good thing. Watching a parent smoke in a car with the windows up and with children in the back waiting for the school to open isn't a nice sight. -
Comment number 48.
swanny
21st January 2013 - 9:21As a smoker for 30years I would give up But feel I am now doing my bit for england. If smoking was banned total there would be a massive rise in Tax then you none smokers would really have somthing to cry about -
Comment number 43.
Peter Lanky
21st January 2013 - 9:20I believe that the biggest issue with smoking is not how to stop the current smokers, as we now have a hard core, unlikely to give up easily.
The main target should be stopping new (young) people taking up the habit in the first place. Considering that new smokers know the health effects, the high cost and the social stigma, yet still smoke, this is something that needs serious research into. -
Comment number 36.
TB
21st January 2013 - 9:17Of course smoking is deleterous to health but one thing still puzzles me. Back in the 1970s when I was a child asthma was relatively rare (I remember two kids at school who had it) yet smoking was common and to do so around children was the norm. Yet nowadays, smoking rates have fallen but asthma seems more common. Now, one thing that correlates is the number of cars on the road....... -
Comment number 17.
Jim Digriz
21st January 2013 - 9:07Excellent news, but still more to do.
Cigarette smoking is a massively destructive public health issue and it has only been in recent memory our society has finally started to act to force cigarette usage away from places where people congregate.
Credit is also due to some smokers as this shows they don't see the ban as nanny state but a clear sign of how dangerous passive smoking is. -
Comment number 7.
Paul G
21st January 2013 - 9:03Although any drop in the numbers of afflicted is good news, there is no scientifically proven link. A scientist stating "We increasingly think.." is not exactly hardcore results. It has also conincided with the recession so fewer can afford to smoke (or drink). I wonder who paid for the research. -
Comment number 5.
Cliff
21st January 2013 - 9:02This is good news and evidence that preventing "passive" smoking works. We should ban smoking in cars. Not only would this reduce passive smoking it would increase road safety. Smoking while driving is a huge distraction, takes a hand off the wheel and runs the risk of smoke or ash getting in the eye, let alone the massive distraction of getting a fag out of the packet and lighting up. -
Comment number 4.
Mark-H
21st January 2013 - 9:02Since the smoking ban, i have never smoked inside. No matter where i am, whether it be in my house, or car. And i think this is a common thing with smokers today. I regularly see people standing outside there homes smoking, and this can only be a good thing.
Any drop in Asthma is great!
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