ABSTRACT
Respiratory diseases often lead to hospital admission and patients with chronic obstructive airways disease may require repeated admissions for infective exacerbations. Carcinoma of the bronchus is the most common cause of cancer death in men, and its prevalence in women has increased in recent years. In the UK, the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis has increased since 1987, with a similar trend being observed in other Western countries. There is a greater awareness of asthma by the general public, surveys indicating an increasing prevalence in both adults and children. Public concern about industrial pollution has led to industry adopting greater safeguards but, nevertheless, occupational lung disease remains an important clinical problem. Smoking remains the single most important cause of respiratory disease despite greater awareness of the dangers of cigarette smoking and health warnings placed on advertisements and cigarette packets. For instance, there has been only a small decline in the total numbers of smokers in the UK during the past years.
