PT-5
LOs:
1)Describe how respiratory diseases affect the UK population, including health inequalities
2) Discuss the role of pharmacy in respiratory disease prevention and reducing health inequalities
1)Describe how respiratory diseases affect the UK population, including health inequalities
third leading cause of death in England
affects 1 in 5 people
UK has 61% higher mortality compared to average rate of the 28 countries in the EU
Large inequalities in respiratory diseases- air pollution, housing, access to healthcare meds, education (use of inhalers)
People from all ethnic minority groups had higher rates of death involving COVID-19 compared with the white British population. This was explained by socio-demographic, and economic factors (eg occupation, living arrangements)
Tobacco use is strongly socially determined. Experiencing deprivation, poor education, insecure housing status, and minoritisation are all risk factors for smoking.
Overall, smoking is declining in England. But:
1 in 4 people in manual jobs smoke
40% of people with a serious mental illness smoke
People living in the most deprived decile are twice as likely to smoke as those in the most affluent decile
Smoking in pregnancy affects 19.8% of mothers in the most deprived decile, 3.7% of mothers in the most affluent decile
2) Discuss the role of pharmacy in respiratory disease prevention and reducing health inequalities
access to a local pharmacy is greater in more deprived areas.
the more deprived area you live in the most likely to have co-morbidities.
screen patients for undiagnosed COPD
Example:
21 community pharmacies screened 238 patients over 9 months.
135 patients with potential undiagnosed COPD: of which 88 smokers, 46 accepted smoking cessation referral.
Smoking cessation estimated to result in net cost saving of £392.67 per patient screened.
pharmacists can educate on risk of air pollution. Link between air pollution and immune response.
Social prescribing- non-pharmacological treatments. Eg for COPD patients, join choir.