Bronchiectasis statistics

Around 210,000 people in the UK were living with bronchiectasis in 2012. This is at least four times higher than the estimate commonly used by the NHS of around 50,000. From 2008 to 2012 prevalence increased by 20%, with the number of people recorded to be living with bronchiectasis going up by 40,000.

Other research published this year suggests bronchiectasis prevalence could be in excess of 300,000. More research is required to confirm the number of people living with the condition, and to determine whether bronchiectasis is becoming more common, or being diagnosed more accurately.

The increase in prevalence could reflect the reclassification of diseases, and a better understanding of the importance of the condition.

A higher proportion of people have bronchiectasis in the West Midlands than elsewhere in the UK, and a lower proportion in the South East of England. This was seen throughout the years 2004–12.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the rate of first diagnoses of bronchiectasis in primary care.

33 people for every 100,000 were newly diagnosed in 2012, up from 20 for every 100,000 in 2004.

In 2012, 379 females and 281 males for every 100,000 had bronchiectasis.

More females than males had the condition throughout the years 2004–12.

In 2012, 36 females and 30 males for every 100,000 were diagnosed for the first time with bronchiectasis. Throughout 2004–12, there were always more new cases each year among females than males. Around 35% more women than men are diagnosed with bronchiectasis each year.   

Around 60% of bronchiectasis diagnoses are made in people aged over 70. Being diagnosed with the condition is more likely as you get older, between the ages of 30 and 70.

Almost all the people newly diagnosed with bronchiectasis each year are over 40, with the chances of getting the condition increasing as people get older.

In 2012, 1,567 people in the UK died from bronchiectasis (0.3 per cent of all deaths and 1.4 per cent of deaths from lung disease), up from 1,150 in 2008.

In 2012, of the 1,567 people who died from bronchiectasis, 661 were males and 906 were females.

In 2012, of the 1,567 people who died from bronchiectasis, 123 were aged 15–64 and 1,444 were aged 65 and above.

England: There were higher mortality rates in the North East, the North West, the East Midlands, the West Midlands and the South East than in the UK generally. There were notably lower death rates in the East of England, London and the South West than in the UK generally. 

Scotland: The death rate was slightly lower than for the UK generally.

Wales: The death rate was similar to that of the UK generally.

Northern Ireland: The death rate was higher compared to the UK generally.

England: There were higher rates of emergency admission in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and the East Midlands compared with the UK generally. Admission rates were notably lower in the South East and South West. 

Scotland: There were lower rates of admission compared with the UK generally, among both males and females.

Wales: There were lower rates of admission compared with the UK generally, the difference being greater for males than for females.

Northern Ireland: There was a considerably higher admission rate compared with the UK generally, among both males and females.

Figures for 2004–12 show that the chances of being diagnosed with bronchiectasis increase the better off you are.

Find out how the numbers of people with bronchiectasis, deaths and hospital admissions were calculated: Methodology - numbers, deaths and admissions