Rates of bronchiectasis on the rise in UK pensioners

A new report has indicated that the lung disease bronchiectasis is becoming more prevalent among UK pensioners.

Conducted by University College London, the study indicated that the lung condition – often thought to be a disease of the past – has become much more common in the last decade and now affects more than one percent of UK pensioners.

Using anonymised GP records covering 14 million patients from across the UK, the research showed that bronchiectasis affected approximately 0.6 percent of people aged 70 or over in 2004, but this increased to 1.2 percent in 2013.

The condition was more common in women and among people with higher socioeconomic status. Moreover, the mortality rates in people with bronchiectasis were twice as high as mortality rates in the general population.

Senior author Jeremy Brown, professor of respiratory infection at University College London, said: "We found that the disease has had a resurgence in recent years, particularly among more well-off members of society. This could be partly down to improved diagnosis in these groups, but whatever the reason we need better treatment options for patients."

Bronchiectasis is characterised by damage to the airways, causing recurrent chest infections, coughing of mucus or blood, shortness of breath and possible respiratory failure.