An analysis of NHS England data obtained through freedom of information requests has revealed significant disparities in childhood respiratory infection hospitalizations based on neighborhood deprivation levels. The charity Impact on Urban Health conducted the analysis, examining admission rates across different socioeconomic areas during 2024-25.
The data showed that children living in the most deprived fifth of England experienced 1,941 hospital admissions per 100,000 children for respiratory illnesses, compared to 1,380 per 100,000 in the least deprived areas. This represents a 40% higher admission rate when adjusted for population size, or an 82% increase in absolute terms. The respiratory conditions included acute upper and lower respiratory infections, influenza, and pneumonia.
Experts identified air pollution as a significant contributing factor, noting that children in deprived areas face greater exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants. Dr. Gergo Baranyi of University College London noted that air pollution represents only part of a broader picture, as children in disadvantaged neighborhoods also experience higher rates of poor-quality housing, overcrowding, damp conditions, mold, outdated heating systems, and secondhand smoke exposure. Air pollution is estimated to cause up to 43,000 deaths annually across the UK, and prior research has documented its ability to slow lung development in children and accelerate lung disease progression.
Ben Pearce of Impact on Urban Health characterized the findings as reflecting decades of planning decisions that have concentrated lower-income communities near busy roads and industrial sites. He called for an overhaul of the UK’s Clean Air Act with legally binding targets aligned with World Health Organization guidelines and prioritizing vulnerable populations. Medical professionals, including Dr. Helena Clements from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, emphasized that addressing air pollution is essential to preventing avoidable illness and reducing health inequalities among children.
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