Second-hand smoke increases the risk of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) including bronchitis, bronchiolitis and middle ear infections.

Previous studies have suggested that, within six months of the 2007 ban on smoking in public places in England, smoking in the home by adult smokers dropped from 65 to 55 per cent. Now a new study suggests that the ban also led to reduced hospitalisations for RTIs in children under 15 years of age.

Researchers analysed 1,651,675 hospital admissions for RTIs between 2001 and 2012. Initially, admissions for upper RTIs showed a statistically significant 1.9 per cent increase after the ban, followed by a gradual and sustained decrease of 1.9 per cent a year. Lower RTIs showed an initial fall of 13.8 per cent and “no clear subsequent” annual change.

The authors admit that the “disparate” effect on upper and lower RTI admissions was “unanticipated”. However, the introduction of smoke-free legislation in England was associated with about 11,000 fewer hospital admissions for RTIs in children a year. “Our results add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the benefits of smoke-free legislation,” remarks lead author Jasper Been, honorary research fellow, centre for population health sciences, University of Edinburgh.

“Although our results cannot definitively establish a cause and effect, the rigorous analysis clearly shows that the introduction of smoke-free legislation was associated with significant reductions in hospital admissions among children.” (Eur Respir J doi: 10.1183/09031936.00014615)