New analysis of NHS England data has revealed that children in the country’s most deprived communities face a significantly higher risk of hospitalization due to respiratory infections, with stark disparities linked to environmental and socioeconomic factors.
According to figures obtained by the charity Impact on Urban Health through freedom of information requests, 1,941 out of every 100,000 children in England’s most deprived fifth were admitted to hospitals for respiratory conditions during 2024/25. This compares to 1,380 admissions per 100,000 children in the least deprived areas, representing a 41% higher rate when accounting for population size.
The data highlights an 82% greater absolute number of hospital admissions in the poorest communities for conditions including acute upper and lower respiratory infections, influenza, and pneumonia. While the study does not pinpoint definitive causes, air pollution emerged as a critical risk factor, with children in deprived areas disproportionately exposed to harmful pollutants.
Dr. Gergo Baranyi, a senior research fellow at University College London specializing in air pollution, emphasized that poor housing quality, overcrowding, damp, mold, outdated heating systems, indoor air quality, and smoking prevalence compound the risks. “These conditions collectively harm respiratory health and reflect broader structural inequalities shaping children’s environments,” he noted.
Recent research underscores the long-term impact of air pollution on children, including stunted lung growth and accelerated progression of respiratory diseases. The UK records up to 43,000 annual deaths attributed to poor air quality.
Ben Pearce, leading Impact on Urban Health’s air pollution program, described the findings as “shocking” and “appalling,” attributing them to decades of planning decisions and systemic inequalities that concentrate pollution sources near lower-income communities. He called for urgent reforms to the Clean Air Act, advocating for legally binding targets aligned with WHO standards and prioritizing the most vulnerable populations.
Dr. Helena Clements of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health warned that air pollution exacerbates childhood illnesses and perpetuates health inequalities. “Tackling air quality is vital to ensuring every child receives a healthy start, regardless of their background,” she said.
The Department of Health and Social Care was approached for comment.
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