This was published by the BLF in 2007, with the analytical help of Dr Foster Intelligence as part of the BLF's campaign to find the missing millions, which aims to identify an estimated 2.8 million people with undiagnosed COPD.
It uses multiple data sources such as HES, QOF [see Jargon Buster] and social survey data using Experian's Mosaic software to pinpoint the areas across the UK with most people with COPD (the Z score), and those with the highest prevalence.
The 10 hotspots are:
- Greater Glasgow & Clyde CHCP
- Lanarkshire CHCP
- Liverpool PCT
- Hull PCT
- Sunderland Teaching PCT
- Manchester PCT
- County Durham PCT
- Sandwell PCT
- South Tyneside PCT
- Gateshead PCT
The BLF also identified other COPD hotspots, including the top COPD hotspot in each UK nation/region not included above.
- Barking and Dagenham PCT London
- Nottingham City PCT East Midlands
- Knowsley PCT North West
- Blaenau Gwent LHB Wales
- Eastern Health and Social Care
- Trust (Belfast) Northern Ireland
- Bristol South West
- Southampton City South Central
- Peterborough East of England
- Medway South East Coast
The report also segments the population into different lifestyle types, allowing the possibility of different social marketing approaches to educate and inform people at risk of COPD about seeking diagnosis and help to stop smoking. These four at risk segments are:
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Older people living in crowded apartments in high-density social housing. Relative risk of COPD 398
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Older people, many in poor health from work in heavy industry, in low-rise social housing. Relative risk of COPD 284
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Older couples, mostly in small towns, who now own houses once rented from the council. Relative risk of COPD 203
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Families with school age children, living in very large social housing estates on the outskirts of provincial cities. Relative risk of COPD 202.