Chronic respiratory diseases

Chronic respiratory diseases are preventable

Chronic respiratory diseases are chronic diseases of the airways and other structures of the lung. Some of the most common are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respiratory allergies, occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension.

The most important risk factors for preventable chronic respiratory diseases are:

• Tobacco smoking
• Indoor air pollution
• Outdoor pollution
• Allergens
• Occupational risks and vulnerability

QUICK chronic respiratory disease FACTS

Hundreds of millions of people suffer every day from chronic respiratory diseases. According to the latest WHO estimates (2007), currently 300 million people have asthma, 210 million people have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) while millions have allergic rhinitis and other often-underdiagnosed chronic respiratory diseases.

WHO chronic respiratory diseases Programme

The aim of the WHO chronic respiratory diseases programme is to support Member States in their efforts to reduce the toll of morbidity, disability and premature mortality related to chronic respiratory diseases, and specifically, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Programme objectives:

• Better surveillance to map the magnitude of chronic respiratory diseases and analyse their determinants with particular reference to poor and disadvantaged populations, and to monitor future trends.
• Primary prevention to reduce the level of exposure of individuals and populations to common risk factors, particularly tobacco, poor nutrition, frequent lower respiratory infections during childhood, and environmental air pollution (indoor, outdoor, and occupational).
• Secondary and tertiary prevention to strengthen health care for people with chronic respiratory diseases by identifying cost-effective interventions, upgrading standards and accessibility of care at different levels of the health care system.

Related links

Related information in other WHO departments