Forum of International Respiratory Societies Calls for Immediate Action to Prevent Childhood Pneumonia on World Pneumonia Day 2025

For Immediate Release 12^thNovember 2025

Despite significant progress in recent years, pneumonia remains a leading cause of child mortality, claiming hundreds of thousands of young lives every year. On World Pneumonia Day 12^th November 2025, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is calling for urgent, coordinated action to prevent pneumonia deaths, particularly among children under five and other high-risk populations.

According to the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2023) estimates, pneumonia killed 2.5 million people globally in 2023, including 610,000 children under five and 79,000 children aged 5–14 years (GBD 2023, IHME). Among newborns (<1 month), approximately 186,000 deaths were reported. The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (IGME 2021) reports similar trends, with 726,000 children under five dying from pneumonia, including 538,000 children aged 1–59 months and 188,000 newborns (UN IGME 2021).

Guy Marks, FIRS President, says: “Pneumonia is entirely preventable and treatable, yet it continues to claim the lives of too many children in low- and middle-income countries. We have effective vaccines and preventive tools — including new interventions against RSV — but access remains limited. Every child deserves the right to survive and thrive.”

Major pathogens causing pneumonia deaths in children under five include (GBD 2023):

• Streptococcus pneumoniae: 197,000
• Klebsiella pneumoniae: 75,000
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa: 46,000
• E. coli: 33,000
• Staphylococcus aureus: 31,000
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): 27,000
• Influenza virus: 25,000

For newborns (<28 days), the leading causes are Klebsiella pneumoniae (34,000), Streptococcus pneumoniae (24,000), and RSV (9,000) (GBD 2023).

High-risk countries bear the largest burden. For children under five, 60% of deaths occur in just ten countries: India (129,000), Nigeria (94,000), Pakistan (31,000), Democratic Republic of the Congo (22,000), Niger (22,000), Ethiopia (13,000), Chad (12,000), Indonesia (11,000), Tanzania (9,000), and Angola (7,000) (GBD 2023). Globally, leading risk factors for children include malnutrition, household air pollution, lack of handwashing, exposure to tobacco smoke, and high environmental temperatures (GBD 2023).

FIRS is calling on governments, global partners, and donors to take immediate steps to accelerate child survival through:

1. Expanding access to lifesaving vaccines: pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) and newly available RSV vaccines and long-acting monoclonal antibodies.
2. Strengthening health systems to ensure timely diagnosis, antibiotics, and oxygen therapy reach every child.
3. Addressing key risk factors such as malnutrition, household air pollution, and low immunization coverage.
4. Promoting maternal and newborn health through vaccination, breastfeeding, and neonatal care programs.
5. Supporting research and innovation to develop cost-effective interventions for low-resource settings.
6. Committing to global targets: The Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) aim for no more than 3 pneumonia deaths per 1,000 live births by 2025, equivalent to approximately 400,000 deaths (WHO GAPPD 2021).

“Pneumonia deaths are preventable, but action must be immediate and equitable. With the right investments and policies, we can reach global targets and save hundreds of thousands of children’s lives this decade,” concluded Guy.

For more information or to arrange interviews please contact Helen Dugdale, communications lead, FIRS Helen.Dugdale@firsnet.org

About the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS)
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is an organisation comprised of the world’s leading international respiratory societies working together to improve lung health globally. The goal of FIRS is to unify and enhance efforts to improve lung health through the combined work of its more than 70,000 members globally.   FIRS comprises the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT), European Respiratory Society (ERS), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).

Data references

1. GBD 2023, IHME: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
2. UN IGME 2021: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. Levels & Trends in Child Mortality 2021. UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Group.
3. WHO GAPPD 2021: Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea. World Health Organization.

International Respiratory experts Use World Lung Cancer Day to Stress the Importance of Lung Cancer Screening and Risk Factor Awareness

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Globally, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide for both men and women. In 2020, there were 2.5 million new lung cancer cases globally and 1.80 million deaths.

In support of World Lung Cancer Day on August 1, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which GOLD is a founding member, stresses the importance of awareness and understanding of lung cancer risk factors, as well as the importance of early detection through lung cancer screening.

While smoking is the single greatest risk factor for lung cancer, accounting for 85% of all cases, other lesser-known risk factors include the environmental exposures—including air pollution—and genetics. Environmental exposure to radon, asbestos, arsenic, beryllium and uranium has been linked to lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer also increases with a history of cancer in another part of the body, age, family history, radiation to the chest area and lung diseases like COPD.

“By coming together as a community of respiratory experts, we can impact the future of lung cancer care,” said Guy Marks, President of FIRS. “Through global collaboration, we have the power to raise awareness of lung cancer risk factors and to encourage early lung cancer screenings. The earlier lung cancer is detected, the sooner a patient can begin treatment. Lives can be saved through earlier detection and, together, we can positively impact the outcome of a lung cancer diagnosis.”

In the United States of America, the 2021 guideline for lung cancer screening from the American College of Chest Physicians, recommend that anyone who is a current tobacco user or has a history of smoking and are 50 years or older, may be a candidate for a screening low-dose CT scan. This is a step that can potentially detect lung cancer in its earliest stages.

Lung cancer symptoms can include a cough that does not go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, and lung infections that keep coming back. Tests that may be used to diagnose lung cancer include physical examination, imaging (chest x-rays, CT scans, and MRI), bronchoscopy, or biopsy.

Resources:

• A guideline with systematic evaluation of criteria for lung cancer screening, “Screening for Lung Cancer: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report,” can be accessed through the journal CHEST^®.
• To learn more about lung cancer screening, visit https://www.iarc.who.int/infographics/benefits-and-harms-of-lung-cancer-screening/.
• For tobacco cessation resources, visit https://www.who.int/teams/health-promotion/tobacco-control.

About the Forum of International Respiratory Societies
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is an organisation comprised of the world’s leading international respiratory societies working together to improve lung health globally. The goal of FIRS is to unify and enhance efforts to improve lung health through the combined work of its more than 100,000 members globally.

FIRS comprises the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT), European Respiratory Society (ERS), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).

Utrecht, 26 June – In a joint appeal published in The Lancet, 44 leading scientific and social organisations from across the globe including The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS)  and its partner organisations, are calling on Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to take urgent action to save millions of young lives by protecting them against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

GAVI is a global partnership that works to ensure access to life-saving vaccines for children in the poorest countries. In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other partners and donors, Gavi has already saved millions of lives by vaccinating children against other major life-threatening diseases.

RSV is a highly contagious virus that causes serious illness in many young children every year. Worldwide, more than 100,000 children under the age of five die from RSV every year, with 97% of these occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).  Infants under six months old are particularly vulnerable, accounting for approximately 45% of RSV-related deaths.  These deaths and serious illnesses can be prevented by vaccinating mothers or by giving babies protective treatment after birth.

In 2018, the Gavi Board acknowledged RSV as a priority and signalled support for adding RSV immunisation to its vaccine portfolio, as soon as effective products have been approved by the Strategic Advisory Group of experts (SAGE) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and sufficient funding is available.

Now, two highly effective products have been approved and introduced in many high- and upper-middle-income countries: the RSVpreF vaccine for pregnant women and RSV monoclonal antibody Nirsevimab for newborn babies. In 2024, the WHO’s SAGE recommended that “All countries introduce products for the prevention of severe RSV disease in infants.”

The availability of sufficient funding is a prerequisite for GAVI to expand its vaccine portfolio with products that protect infants against RSV. However, global funding for vaccination programmes is under growing pressure. This has far-reaching consequences for countries with high child mortality and places additional pressure on Gavi’s budget and its ability to support the introduction of new life-saving interventions.

Heather Zar, paediatric respiratory health specialist at the University of Cape Town and a FIRS and a Pan African Thoracic society Ex-Co member who co-authored the letter, said:

“RSV is a major cause of pneumonia, hospitalisation and deaths in low- and middle-income countries.  But this burden is now preventable with one of two new highly effective interventions that are being widely used in high income countries.  However, it is urgent that these become available and accessible to all infants especially in areas with the greatest burden globally. On behalf of 44 global leading scientific and social organisations we urge the Gavi board to prioritise RSV prevention and expand access to protect all children against RSV disease, regardless of where they are born.”

Media contact: Fiona.salter@firsnet.org

International Respiratory Societies Unite on World Bronchiectasis Day 2025 to Urge Global Awareness and Collaboration

This Rare Lung Disease is Increasing; Members of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies Unite to Improve Early Detection

JULY 1, 2025 – According to the 2022 Global Impact of Respiratory Disease Report, the global presence of non–cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis ranges from 67 to 566 per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe and North America and from 1,200 per 100,000 inhabitants in China in those aged 40 or older.

In support of World Bronchiectasis Day, July 1, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which GOLD is a founding member, is calling attention to the growing burden of this lesser-known chronic lung disease and the urgent need for increased awareness, diagnosis and coordinated care.

Bronchiectasis is a lung disease that affects hundreds of thousands of children and adults worldwide. With this chronic illness, the airways become enlarged or scarred, making it difficult to clear mucus properly, leading to recurring lung infections and affecting daily life. Unmanaged, bronchiectasis can lead to accelerated lung function loss resulting in long-term disability and premature death. The disease can occur at any age, though most people are diagnosed later in life. Although there is currently no cure, detecting and treating bronchiectasis early can improve quality of life and improve long term health.

While bronchiectasis is often referred to as a rare disease, its occurrence is increasing globally. In children, especially those in poor communities, bronchiectasis may occur following a lower respiratory tract infection or pneumonia such as whooping cough or viral infection.

“Bronchiectasis continues to be a widely misunderstood and underdiagnosed respiratory disease, affecting individuals around the world,” says Guy Marks, President of FIRS. “As global leaders in respiratory health, World Bronchiectasis Day is an opportunity for us to spotlight this chronic lung disease and the people it impacts. We stand together to advocate for better care pathways, patient education and research funding.”

Celebrated annually on July 1, World Bronchiectasis Day aims to unite healthcare providers, researchers, patients and advocacy organizations in a shared mission: to improve early detection, foster research into the causes and treatments of bronchiectasis, and ensure that patients across all regions have access to comprehensive, multidisciplinary care.

The 2025 World Bronchiectasis Day campaign emphasizes the importance of cross-border collaboration, particularly in regions where bronchiectasis is underreported and underdiagnosed or healthcare systems face barriers to early diagnosis and long-term management.

To learn more about bronchiectasis and to support annual World Bronchiectasis Day, visit worldbronchiectasisday.org.

About the Forum of International Respiratory Societies
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is an organisation comprised of the world’s leading international respiratory societies working together to improve lung health globally. The goal of FIRS is to unify and enhance efforts to improve lung health through the combined work of its more than 100,000 members globally.

FIRS comprises the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), Asociación Latino Americana De Tórax (ALAT), European Respiratory Society (ERS), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (The Union), Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).

Stop tobacco industry tactics targeting young people, say international lung health experts

On World No Tobacco Day (31 May, 2025) the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), including member GOLD, supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts to expose and condemn the tobacco industry’s harmful tactics—many of which are aimed at young people.

This year’s World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) – themed ‘Unmasking the appeal: Exposing industry tactics on tobacco and nicotine products’ – aims to reveal the strategies employed by the tobacco and nicotine industries to make their harmful products enticing.

FIRS, founded by leading international respiratory societies and representing over 100,000 respiratory health professionals, joins the WHO in raising awareness, advocating for stronger policies—including a ban on flavours that make tobacco and nicotine products more appealing—and protecting public health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 88 countries have no minimum age for purchasing e-cigarettes, and 74 countries lack any form of regulation for these products. According to the most recent WHO data, only four countries ban all flavours in e-cigarettes, while another four allow or restrict specific flavours. Just 11 countries prohibit all forms of advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of e-cigarettes, compared to 36 with partial bans, and six with no regulations. These gaps leave young people particularly vulnerable to targeted e-cigarette marketing.

FIRS supports the WHO’s call for a collective commitment to a healthier future and calls for policies to protect young people to be implemented as soon as possible.

Dr Filippos Filippidis, Chair of the European Respiratory Society’s Tobacco Control Committee, said: “The tobacco industry has always been targeting young people, making their products appealing using various strategies. Many countries have made substantial progress in limiting this ability through comprehensive bans in advertising and promotion, plain packaging, health warnings and restrictions on flavours. However, we continue to see products such as heated tobacco, e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches being successfully marketed to young people. The rise in the use of these products is a concerning trend that requires urgent action, both at a political and societal level.

“By working together to bring about a tobacco-free generation, we can help save millions of lives. The most important thing we can do right now is ensure that the tobacco industry cannot freely appeal to young people – we must create a sensible barrier to protect them from harmful products.”

More information on this year’s WNTD can be found on the WHO website.

Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL, Say Respiratory Health Organizations

The Forum of International Respiratory Societies launches new campaign to increase access to asthma treatment.

On World Asthma Day 2025 (6 May), the call to action is clear: ‘Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL’. To highlight the lack of access to inhaled medicines for asthma and COPD in low-resource, high-burden settings, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is launching an education campaign Increasing Access to Inhaled Medicines. The campaign will engage governments, the United Nations, global health agencies, industry, donors and civil society organizations to take coordinated action to ensure availability of proven, effective treatments. GOLD is a founding member of FIRS.

Asthma affects over 260 million people and causes more than 450,000 deaths each year. It is also the commonest chronic disease in children and adolescents, affecting around 15% of young adolescents globally.  Most of these deaths are preventable. Inhaled corticosteroid-containing medications are essential for managing asthma and preventing life-threatening attacks. But in many low- and middle-income countries—where 96% of global asthma deaths occur—access to these proven treatments remains dangerously limited.

Frontline healthcare professionals are critical to improving outcomes for people with asthma – we urge doctors and health care professionals to ensure that every individual with asthma receives appropriate, evidence-based treatment. This includes prescribing essential inhaled corticosteroid-containing medication—either alone or in combination with a reliever—to reduce the persistent burden of preventable asthma-related morbidity and mortality.

On World Asthma Day, FIRS and its members call on all sectors to step up efforts to ‘Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL’.

World Asthma Day was first organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in 1998 and has grown each year to become one of the most important asthma events globally, with hundreds of awareness-raising activities taking place all over the world.

GINA’s global asthma strategy and resources are available at www.ginasthma.org and www.ginasthma.org/reports.

For more on asthma treatment, watch and listen to the ATS Breathe Easy podcast on biologics to treat asthma.

FIRS Increasing Access to Inhaled Medicines campaign aims to improve availability of essential inhaled therapies for asthma and COPD in low-resource, high-burden settings. The campaign will engage governments, international agencies, industry, donors and civil society to take coordinated action. With the 2025 UN High-level Meeting on NCDs approaching, the campaign highlights the urgent need for investment and policy change to ensure equitable access to effective, affordable inhaled medicines. Learn more here.

No More Excuses: Break the Chain of Transmission to End Tuberculosis – World TB Day 2025

Respiratory societies urge prioritization of TB detection and treatment in high-burden areas.

On World TB Day 2025, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), co-founded by GOLD, urges all stakeholders—governments, agencies, NGOs, academics, civil society and donors— to focus on evidence-based policies and programs that will break the chain of transmission to end TB in high-burden settings.

Dr Cassandra Kelly-Cirino, Executive Director of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), a FIRS member, states: “We must be brave and recognize that our current approach is not going to achieve our goals – ending TB by 2030 or 2035.

“It is total injustice and failure by us all that millions of people around the world are still at high risk of TB. There are simply no more excuses for this inequity and suffering from this ancient and preventable disease.”

According to the World Health Organization’s latest Global Tuberculosis Report:

• In 2023, an estimated 10.8 million people fell ill with TB and there were an estimated 1.25 million deaths worldwide
• Between 2020 and 2023, the TB incidence rate (new cases per 100,000 population per year) is estimated to have increased by 4.6%, reversing declines of about 2% per year between 2010 and 2020.
• Approximately 2.7 million people were undiagnosed with the disease or not officially reported to national authorities in 2023.

Dr Kelly-Cirino continues: “While many people in high-income countries believe TB is a disease of the past (because it generally is, in their countries), it is very much present and impacting lives, in most countries of the world. It is an ancient disease that thrives on the kind of instability we are currently seeing due to conflict, political uncertainty and climate change.

“TB is an airborne infectious disease that does not respect borders. We all must play our part in eradicating TB in high-burden settings. TB anywhere is TB everywhere.”

The current difficult funding and geopolitical landscape requires the prioritization of interventions that will have the most impact on reducing TB incidence rates (i.e. the rate of new TB infections). These interventions already exist – community-wide active case finding linked to effective treatment of people who have TB.

Prof Guy Marks, President of FIRS and The Union, explains: “In high-burden settings we must prioritize finding and treating everyone with TB. This is the only way to stop more people from being exposed, becoming infected, and infecting others. This is how we to break the chain of transmission and end TB once and for all.

“The effectiveness of this approach to end TB was proven during the latter half of the 20th century in several countries in Europe, North America, east Asia and Oceania, as well as Cuba.”

There is no ignoring the devastating impact the US Government’s decision to cut funding is having on global health and the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Dr Kelly-Cirino concludes: “Now is not the time to cut funding and engagement in the fight against TB – we can do that once the job is done. We urge communities to pressure their leaders to end TB. In 2025, no one should expect to be at high risk of being infected with TB.

“We call on world leaders and donors to fulfil their commitment to end TB, by significantly investing in breaking the chain of transmission to ensure all their citizens are safe from being infected in the future.”

The Forum of International Respiratory Societies Calls for Urgent Action to Expand Access to Pneumonia Prevention and Treatment Worldwide

On World Pneumonia Day, 12^th November 2024, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which GOLD is a founding member, is calling for urgent action to prevent pneumonia deaths among high-risk groups particularly children younger than five years and older people.  New effective preventive interventions are available, but these are still inaccessible in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Prof Heather Zar, of the Pan African Thoracic Society Executive Committee, a FIRS member, says:

“New, highly effective interventions to prevent Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) pneumonia in infants and young children have recently become available and can substantially reduce the burden of childhood pneumonia and mortality.  However, access and affordability in LMICs is crucial to reduce global inequity and promote health for all children, especially as most severe illness occurs in LMICs.”

In 2021, pneumonia claimed the lives of 2,2 million people including 502,000 (23%) children aged less than 5 years and 152,000 (7%) newborn babies. The pneumonia burden remains unacceptably high, especially as most deaths are preventable.  In addition, early life pneumonia may lead to poorer health through life and contribute to the development of chronic respiratory disease in adulthood.

S. pneumoniae (pneumococcus) remains one of the most important bacteria causing pneumonia across age groups, while RSV is a major cause of pneumonia and hospitalization in children and older people. However, there are now effective vaccines for these. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, a highly effective vaccine preventing pneumonia from S pneumoniae has been available for over two decades but is still not accessible to many children in poor areas. New, highly effective vaccines against RSV are now available. These include vaccines specifically for older adults, a vaccine for pregnant women, and a long-acting antibody to protect infants and young children. However, there is very limited availability of these in LMICs despite the large number of children and older adults developing severe pneumonia in these countries and excellent protection offered by vaccination.

Most deaths occur in the poorest populations in LMICs. Key risk factors for pneumonia include air pollution, malnutrition, smoke exposure, HIV infection, and low vaccination rates. For young children, prematurity and lack of breastfeeding are additional risks. Limited access to effective treatment of pneumonia is also a concern, especially in many LMICs, where healthcare facilities and oxygen systems are often unavailable, particularly for children.

Although pneumonia deaths have substantially declined over the past decade, urgent efforts are still needed to improve access to effective prevention and treatment. On World Pneumonia Day, FIRS is calling on governments and partners to:

• Ensure equitable and sustained access to vaccines against the commonest pathogens.
• Ensure access to new highly effective preventive interventions against RSV for infants and young children globally.
• Strengthen health systems to deliver interventions which reduce pneumonia deaths, including provision of effective vaccines, antibiotics and oxygen delivery systems.
• Strengthen national and international commitment to support interventions against the leading risk factors for pneumonia.
• Improve support for research into cost-effective interventions to prevent and treat pneumonia in LMICs.

About the Forum of International Respiratory Societies
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is an organisation comprised of the world’s leading international respiratory societies working together to improve lung health globally. The goal of FIRS is to unify and enhance efforts to improve lung health through the combined work of its more than 70,000 members globally.

FIRS comprises the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT), European Respiratory Society (ERS), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).

Respiratory Societies Help in Bringing the World Together for Bronchiectasis

On World Bronchiectasis Day, members of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies bring awareness to a chronic lung disease
JULY 1, 2024

In support of the third annual World Bronchiectasis Day, July 1, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which GOLD is a founding member, is joining the COPD Foundation and several global organizations to raise awareness, share knowledge, and discuss ways to reduce the burden of bronchiectasis for patients and their families worldwide.

This year’s World Bronchiectasis Day theme is focused on research and the importance of participation in clinical trials, how research can impact innovation in bronchiectasis diagnosis and treatment, and how registries work to aid research efforts.

Bronchiectasis is a lung disease that affects an estimated one million individuals worldwide of which roughly 400,000 are in the United States. The number of affected individuals is likely even higher due to the probability of misdiagnosis with bronchiectasis. In this illness, the airways become enlarged or scarred, making it difficult to clear mucus properly, leading to recurring lung infections. Symptoms include frequent coughing (often with thick, discolored mucus), sputum production, breathlessness, repeat chest infections, increased tiredness, unexplained fever, chills, sweats and weight loss, and chest pain.

In addition, bronchiectasis:

• can occur at any age and is diagnosed by chest computed tomography (CT) scans.
• causes a significant burden on patients and their families. It can lead to accelerated lung function loss which can result in long-term disability and premature death in adults.
• has been associated with disparities in morbidity and mortality outcomes in the socioeconomic disadvantaged.

Although there is currently no cure, detecting and treating bronchiectasis early can improve quality of life and long-term health.

“As the prevalence of bronchiectasis increases, it is vital that we continue to advance research efforts to improve diagnosis and treatment of this chronic lung condition,” said Tim Aksamit, MD, medical director of Bronchiectasis and NTM 360, and a pulmonology and critical care medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, USA. “The COPD Foundation and its global lung health partners are dedicated to advocating for increased research and to providing free educational materials that can help improve the lives of those living with bronchiectasis.”

Learn more about bronchiectasis in this introduction video with Dr. Aksamit. For more information about participating in World Bronchiectasis Day and a full list of activities, visit WorldBronchiectasisDay.org.

About the Forum of International Respiratory Societies:

The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is an organisation comprised of the world’s leading international respiratory societies working together to improve lung health globally. The goal of FIRS is to unify and enhance efforts to improve lung health through the combined work of its more than 70,000 members globally.

FIRS comprises the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT), European Respiratory Society (ERS), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).

Asthma Education is Key to Reducing Deaths Worldwide, Say Respiratory Health Associations

On World Asthma Day 2024 (7 May), the message is clear: “Asthma Education Empowers.” The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which GOLD is a founding member, stresses the crucial role of education in empowering people with asthma to manage their condition effectively and to know when to seek medical assistance.

FIRS also urges healthcare professionals to enhance their awareness of the preventable morbidity and mortality from asthma and of the published evidence on effective asthma management, so they are equipped to provide reliable information and optimal treatment for their patients.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases that affects over 260 million people and is responsible for over 450,000 deaths each year worldwide, most of which are preventable.

Key universal issues on which education is required are:
• under- or inaccurate diagnosis,
• underuse of anti-inflammatory inhaled corticosteroid inhalers,
• overuse, and over-reliance on short-acting beta2–agonist (SABA) inhalers,
• poor recognition of patients requiring specialist assessment and further management.

In low-middle-income countries, lack of availability of inhaled medicines and especially inhaled corticosteroid-containing inhalers is a major contributor to the fact that more than 90% of asthma deaths occur in these countries.

FIRS calls on policymakers and the pharmaceutical industry to recognize the ongoing issue of preventable illness caused by this common disease, despite the existence of highly effective controller treatments, and to step up efforts to make sure environmentally friendly inhaled medications are available in all countries, ensuring everyone has access, “leaving no-one behind”. Read more www.ginasthma.org/reports.

World Asthma Day was first held in 1998, and, has grown each year to become one of the most important asthma events globally. On World Asthma Day, hundreds of awareness-raising activities will take place in countries all over the world. Further information about GINA and World Asthma Day can be found at GINA’s website: ginasthma.org. Documents detailing GINA’s global strategy for diagnosis, management, and prevention of asthma are also available at ginasthma.org.

About the Forum of International Respiratory Societies
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is an organization comprised of the world’s leading international respiratory societies working together to improve lung health globally. The goal of FIRS is to unify and enhance efforts to improve lung health through the combined work of its more than 70,000 members globally.

FIRS comprises the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), Asociación Latino Americana De Tórax (ALAT), European Respiratory Society (ERS), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (The Union), Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).

Additional World Asthma Day Resources:

• World Asthma Day: WHO calls for better education to empower people living with asthmaGARD collection: Asthma Education
• Empowers | Knowledge Action Portal on NCDs (knowledge-action-portal.com)