Hospital admissions for lung disease and other smoking-related disorders in the UK are expected to rise by up to a quarter in some areas of the country by 2020, according to new research.

The South Coast and West Country are expected to see the largest rises in admissions for lung disease in England, with the Isle of Wight seeing the biggest increase between now and 2020.

The study by Experian Public Sector and the British Lung Foundation shows that Torquay, the Isle of Wight and Barnstaple will see rises of at least 16 per cent in admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an umbrella term for a range of lung diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The Isle of Wight is also set to see the biggest increase in lung disease, with a 25.1 per cent increase predicted by 2020, according to the study. The research also shows that by 2015, Southampton Primary Care Trust (PCT) is forecast to have the highest cost of COPD admissions per thousand head of population (£10,643), which adds up to an overall cost of more than £2.5 million in treatment of COPD.

This is followed by Knowsley (£9,175) and Liverpool (£8,901), while the PCT areas forecast to have the fewest admissions for COPD are Richmond & Twickenham (£2,182), Kingston (£2,365) and Berkshire West (£2,400). Emily Sparks, director of health at Experian Public Sector, said the research shows that PCTs will have to adjust their budgets accordingly. She said: “Our research highlights dramatic differences in predicted rates and associated treatment costs for a range of lung diseases across the country.

“This underlines the importance of understanding how healthcare provision needs to be tailored to local communities.” Katherine Leach, head of national projects at the British Lung Foundation, said: “We are urging primary care trusts in retirement hotspots to adopt the recommendations set out in the Government’s recently published Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease outcomes strategy to help reduce admissions.”