The UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy and childhood hospital admissions for asthma in England

Sugar sweetened beverage consumption has been suggested as a risk factor for asthma symptoms in children. We examined whether the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), announced in March 2016 and implemented in April 2018, was associated with changes in National Health Service hospital admission rates for asthma in children. We conducted interrupted time series analyses (2012 - 2020) to measure changes in monthly incidence rates of hospital admissions for asthma. Sub-analysis was by age-group (5-9, 10-14, 15-18 years) and neighbourhood deprivation quintiles. Estimated changes were relative to counterfactual scenarios where SDIL was neither announced, nor implemented. Compared to the counterfactual scenario there was an overall relative reduction in incidence rates of hospital admissions of 20.9% (95%CI: 29.6-12.2), 22 months post-SDIL. Reductions were similar across age-groups and deprivation quintiles with relative reductions of 24.3% (95%CI: 29.6-12.2) in children aged 10-14 years, and reductions of 23.2% (95%CI 33.4-13.1) in children living in the middle deprivation quintile. These findings provide evidence that the implementation of a tax intended to reduce childhood obesity in the UK preceded a potentially significant collateral public health benefit in the form of reduced hospital admissions for childhood asthma.