Lung diseases make up half of top 10 causes of death in WV

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Five respiratory diseases are among the top 10 causes of death in Region 6, and the Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WVCHD) on Thursday said it is actively working with local government units (LGUs) to minimize the trend.

The DOH-WVCHD released the data during a press conference at the Iloilo City Hall to kick off the annual National Lung Month celebration.

John Richard Lapascua of the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit identified the five lung diseases as Pneumonia (3rd – 24,772 cases), Acute respiratory infection (ARI) for 5 years old and above (5th – 19,871 cases), Tuberculosis (TB) (all forms) (6th – 17,549), ARI for below 5 years old (7th – 13,852), and Bronchitis (9th – 5,391).

The data also indicated that the number of deaths from these diseases increased compared to the 2021 death indexes – Pneumonia (from 11,855 in 2021), ARI for 5 years old and above (from 13,633) and below 5 years old (from 9,093), all forms of Tuberculosis (from 12,420), and Bronchitis (from 3,304).

The top two causes of death in Western Visayas last year were animal bites (147,536) and hypertension (34,199), which also increased in morbidity figures from last year (119,324 and 28,756, respectively).

The other causes of death re Urinary tract infection (4th – 24,458), Skin disease (8th – 10,513), and Fever of unknown origin (3,214).

Lapascua said the DOH-WVCHD has taken steps, in partnership with LGUs, to stem the proliferation of these illnesses:

–          Lobbying for the passage of comprehensive tobacco control policies via local ordinances;

–          Lobbying for standards to achieve the Red Orchid Award;

–          Ensuring that local policies include tobacco smoke and vape-free communities;

–          Continuous multi-media advocacy projects;

–          Make services available via health facilities including Brief Tobacco Intervention services and setting up Smoking Cessation Clinics.

The data also indicated that tobacco control ordinances are in effect in the region, including in Aklan (16 out of 17 LGUs), Antique (15 out of 18 LGUs), Capiz (14 out of 17 LGUs), Guimaras (3 out of 5 LGUs), Iloilo (31 out of 44 LGUs including Iloilo City), and Negros Occidental (12 out of 32 LGUs).

DOH Medical Technologist IV Robinson Canson said that while the data suggested that lung disease-induced deaths may have increased, policies have ensured that the trend would go down.

Canson pointed to the data on TB, which had been the 4th-leading cause of death in the region but had increased at a slower rate compared to other diseases.

Despite this, he said that the focus of the lung month celebration was to continuously decrease the use of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.

“Smoking diminishes our immune system because it affects our lungs, that is why we become vulnerable to infections if we have family members or colleagues with TB. TB can be contracted [mostly] through infected droplets and not [usually] through smoking. If we know people who smoke, we have to advise them to wear masks so they can avoid [TB],” Canson said.

The Red Orchid Awards is the DOH’s recognition of government hospitals, offices, and LGUs that implement a 100-percent tobacco-free environment and for meeting the World Health Organization’s quality standards on tobacco prevention and control.

In Western Visayas, 22 LGUs have received the award.

This year’s National Lung Month theme is “Hingang ginhawa kapag Healthy Lungs ang buong pamilya!” (Breathing lightly when the whole family has healthy lungs!), with the sub-theme “Paninigarilyo at secondhand smoke ang mga pangunahing sanhi ng lung diseases, itigil ang bisyo at ilayo ang iba sa sakit at perwisyo!” (Smoking and secondhand smoke are the main causes of lung diseases, stop the vice and stray everyone away from perversion!).

The celebration started in 1978 via Presidential Proclamation No. 1761 issued by the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to make the public aware of lung diseases, especially pneumonia and tuberculosis.

August 19 has also been designated as National Tuberculosis Day in 1996 via Presidential Proclamation No. 480 by the late president Fidel Ramos to mark the birth of former President Manuel Quezon, who died due to the disease in 1994 while in exile in New York during World War II.