ISD Scotland have produced their latest Atlas of Variation statistics which include data on smoking prevalence and COPD in Scotland.
In 2018, 19% of adults - nearly one in five - were recorded as smokers. There are around 10, 000 smoking-related deaths, and over 30, 000 hospital admissions per year in Scotland.
COPD is a leading cause of hospital admissions in Scotland. It accounts for 3000 deaths and just under 110, 000 bed days. Evidence indicates that there is a strong correlation between COPD and smoking.
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is an advocate of reducing smoking-related harms and is a member of the Scottish Coalition On Tobacco (SCOT).
Professor Derek Bell OBE, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh said:
Around one in five people still smoke in Scotland. While a lot of great work has been undertaken so far to encourage people to quit cigarettes altogether and to reduce smoking-related harms, it is clear that there is a lot more still to be done.
The College has welcomed action on smoking including the ban on smoking in public buildings, the introduction of plain packaging, smoke free NHS grounds, and the ban on tobacco advertising and promotions.
Smoking can increase the risk of stroke, cancer, coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and many respiratory conditions including COPD. There are around 10,000 smoking-related deaths, and over 30,000 hospital admissions per year in Scotland.
It’s important to encourage as many people as possible to not smoke. The reasons for choosing and continuing to smoke are multifactorial. However, there are clear links between inequality and tobacco use, and we would encourage authorities in Scotland to address this. Efforts must be made to reduce health inequality in Scotland.
