Background To ascertain the trends in mortality from Asbestosis, Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis (EAA) and sarcoidosis in England and Wales, we analysed mortality data from the Office of National Statistics.

Methods We calculated age and stratum specific mortality rates between 1968 and 2008 and applied these to the 2008 population demographics to generate the standardised number of expected deaths per annum. Poisson regression was used to calculate annual mortality rate ratios.

Results From 1968 to 2008 there were 1958 registered deaths from Asbestosis, 878 deaths from EAA and 3544 deaths from sarcoidosis. The Asbestosis mortality rate increased from 0.04 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.05) in the 1968 to 1972 calendar period to 0.12 (95% CI 0.10 to 0.13) in the 2005 to 2008 period while the mortality from EAA increased marginally from 0.04 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.05) in the 1968 to 1972 calendar period to 0.08 (95% CI 0.07 to 0.09) in the 2005 to 2008 period. Mortality from sarcoidosis has increased by approximately 9% a year.

Discussion Our findings show that the mortality from Asbestosis continues to rise in the UK. Overall mortality rates from EAA have remained stable throughout the same period but they were higher in males and in older people. There was a slight increase in mortality from sarcoidosis over the study period which was greater in women.