New poll shows 7 out of 10 people in Wales are worried about their family’s lung health

Leading lung health charity is urging politicians to make respiratory health a priority ahead of the May elections.

Released on 4th March 2025

Annual polling from Asthma + Lung UK Cymru of 1000 people in Wales, undertaken by Opinion Matters, shows that 7 in 10 respondents (69.8%) were concerned about their family’s respiratory health.

In Wales, around 1 in 4 are living with a lung condition (1). Roughly 590,000 people live with asthma, and 185,000 people are estimated to have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with many thousands living undiagnosed.2

Lung conditions are the third biggest killer in Wales3, which has the worst respiratory death rates in Europe 4 and costs the Welsh economy £772 million every year.5 With Wales due to go to the polls in two months, Asthma + Lung UK Cymru has launched its charity manifesto ‘Our Battle for Breathe – Policy Priorities for the next Welsh Government’, calling on all parties to make lung health a priority.

Asthma + Lung UK Cymru is calling on the Welsh Government to focus on improving diagnosis, treatment and support, and preventing lung conditions by tackling air pollution, smoking rates and damp housing. There are nineteen asks for political parties including the following three.

  • Roll out lung screening, including appropriate follow-up of incidental findings, focusing on smokers, which has been proven to find treatable early-stage lung cancer, before symptoms present
  • Ensure that 100% of adults and children with lung conditions get the basic care they need, in order to manage their condition, improve their well-being and reduce hospitalisation
  • Tackle domestic burning by legislating against domestic wood burning in urban areas, support rural households in transitioning from wood as a primary heating source and provide financial assistance to those in fuel poverty.

Bec Miller, Policy and Public Affairs Officer at Asthma + Lung UK Cymru, said:

“For far too long lung conditions have been overlooked and underfunded, leaving people sidelined at home, without diagnosis or effective treatment. It is not surprising that so many people in Wales are worried about their family’s lung health.

“When breathing is hard, nothing is easy. That is why Asthma + Lung UK Cymru is setting out its manifesto for lung health to help improve respiratory care and outcomes across the nation.

“To meet this challenge, we are urging the next Welsh Government to take on board our policies covering diagnosis, treatment, support and prevention. We are looking forward to working with them to help make lung health a priority.”

Asthma + Lung UK Cymru’s manifesto, ‘Our Battle for Breath’ in English can be found here. And for the Welsh language version, here.

ENDS

Reference

  1. International Respiratory Coalition, accessed here
  2. Hannah et al; Incidence and prevalence of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease between 2004 and 2023: harmonised analyses of longitudinal cohorts across England, Wales, South-East Scotland and Northern Ireland (fig1) can be accessed here
  3. Office for National Statistics. Deaths registered in England and Wales February 2026. Accessed here
  4. European Commission, Eurostat 2025. Causes of death February 2026. Accessed here
  5. Saving your breath: How better lung health benefits us all in Wales 2023. Asthma + Lung UK Cymru. Accessed here

Methodology

The research was conducted by Opinion Matters on behalf of Asthma + Lung UK Cymru, among a sample of 1,000 adults in Wales aged 16+. The data was collected between 19.12.25 - 06.01.25. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles. Opinion Matters is also a member of the British Polling Council.

69.8% - Combining those who said ‘extremely concerned’ or ‘quite concerned’ to the following question ‘How concerned are you about the following: my family’s respiratory health’