Child asthma deaths linked to air pollution, new report finds
12 December 2024
Of the 54 children who died of asthma between 2019 and 2023, more than 90 per cent were exposed to air pollution levels above World Health Organisation guidelines, according to a new report published on 12 December by the University of Bristol’s National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) team. The report uses the NCMD’s unique data on all child deaths in England to examine deaths due to asthma or anaphylaxis between April 2019 and March 2023.
The report finds that all of the children who died of asthma were likely to have been exposed to levels of particulate matter at home and at school that exceeded WHO guidelines, while 92 per cent and 95 per cent were exposed to levels of nitrogen dioxide beyond the WHO limit at home and at school respectively. These levels of exposure are still within current UK guidelines.
The study shows that death rates due to asthma were twice as high for boys than girls, and higher for children from more deprived neighbourhoods – children in the poorest areas were four times more likely to have an emergency hospital admission than those in the least deprived neighbourhoods. Death rates were also higher for those living in urban rather than rural areas.
The report also looks at 19 deaths among children due to anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, during the same period. In 53 per cent of these cases the anaphylactic event occurred at home or the house of a friend or relative, and nuts, milk and eggs were the most common allergens. The most commonly recorded factor in these child deaths was public safety – for example, unclear labelling. One of the most significant findings was that all the children who died due to anaphylaxis who had known allergies were also known to have asthma highlighting that asthma may be an important risk factor.
Karen Luyt, Programme Director for the National Child Mortality Database, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at the University of Bristol and Healthier Childhoods theme lead at NIHR ARC West said:
“This new and unique analysis of children who have died due to asthma and extreme allergic reactions tells us more than ever before about the impact of these conditions on child mortality.
“The common thread of air pollution among the cases of child deaths due to asthma is particularly striking, and we hope that the report’s recommendations towards saving and improving children’s lives will be heard by those with the power to effect change. Future young lives depend on effective implementation of these recommendations.”
The report also presents recommendations to improve and save children’s lives in future, as well as learning from the detailed child death review that takes place whenever any child dies in England.
National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) programme thematic report
‘Child deaths due to asthma or anaphylaxis’ by Stoianova S, Williams T, Odd D, Sleap V, Fraser J, Garstang J, Grigg J, Levy M, Sharma V, Townshend J, Luyt K on behalf of the National Child Mortality Database
About the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD)