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A thematic collection by: Sarah Rylance, WHO | Mohammad Mahdi RASHIDI, World Health Organization

Chronic Respiratory Diseases - time for action

Half a billion people are living with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs).

Asthma and COPD, the two most common CRDs, are a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Yet, CRDs are often overlooked in the global NCD agenda.

This collection provides information on the global burden and resources to support the integration of CRDs into primary care.

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Global burden of CRDs
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World Health Organization

Noncommunicable Diseases Data Portal

Database

03 Oct 2022

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WHO Regional Office for Europe, European Respiratory Society

Chronic respiratory diseases in the WHO European Region

Report

12 Jun 2025

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WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia

Chronic respiratory diseases in WHO South-East Asia: Burden, risk factors and services for prevention and management

Report

18 Sep 2025

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Global Asthma Network

The Global Asthma Report 2025: Patient Stories

Report

07 May 2025

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World Health Organization

Invisible numbers. The true extent of noncommunicable diseases and what to do about them

Report

24 Oct 2022

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European Lung Foundation

Living with chronic respiratory disease: voices from around the world

Briefs & Fact Sheets

23 Sep 2025

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Lancet Respiratory Medicine

Global epidemiology of chronic respiratory disease

Publication

22 Sep 2025

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World Health Organization

Assessing national capacity for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: report on 2023 global survey

Report

12 May 2025

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Global Asthma Network

Asthma management and control in children, adolescents, and adults in 25 countries: a Global Asthma Network Phase I cross-sectional study

Article

01 Feb 2023

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Forum of International Respiratory Societies

The Global Impact of Respiratory Disease - 3rd Edition

Report

09 Oct 2021

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World Health Organization (WHO)

Science in 5: asthma and you

Briefs & Fact Sheets

20 Aug 2024

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World Health Organization (WHO)

Science in 5: COPD

Briefs & Fact Sheets

27 Nov 2024

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World Health Organization

Global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013–2020

Strategy document

16 Feb 2014

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WHO and colleagues

Key messages and partnerships to raise awareness and improve outcomes for people with asthma and COPD in LMIC

Article

01 Dec 2022

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WHO, Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases

Key advocacy messages for chronic respiratory diseases

Strategy document

14 Sep 2025

Improving access to care, including essential medicines for CRDs
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The Lancet

The availability, cost and affordability of essential medicines for asthma and COPD in LMIC: a systematic review, Lancet Global Health 2022

Article

01 Oct 2022

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Forum of International Respiratory Societies

Increasing Access to Inhaled Medicines

Briefs & Fact Sheets

05 May 2025

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NCD Alliance

Access to Essential Medicines and Technologies for NCDs

21 Jan 2025

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International Primary Care Respiratory Group

Asthma Right Care Key Resources

Briefs & Fact Sheets

17 Apr 2024

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International Primary Care Respiratory Group

COPD Right Care

Briefs & Fact Sheets

17 Apr 2024

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World Health Organization

WHO package of essential non-communicable (PEN) disease interventions for primary health care.

Publication

07 Jul 2020

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International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)

Chronic respiratory diseases: A handbook for pharmacists (2022)

Publication

29 Jul 2022

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BMJ, Thorax

Availability, cost and affordability of essential medicines for chronic respiratory diseases in low-income and middle-income countries: a cross sectional study

Article

07 May 2024

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The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Clinical standards for the diagnosis and management of asthma in low- and middle-income countries

Article

01 Sep 2023

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World Health Organization

Tackling NCDs: best buys and other recommended interventions for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

Publication

10 May 2024

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World Health Organization

Saving lives, spending less: the case for investing in noncommunicable diseases

Publication

13 Dec 2021

About

Asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) affect half a billion people and together cause 4 million deaths every year.

90% of "premature" CRD-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where access to basic diagnostic tools and essential medicines is lacking.

 

Approximately 213 million people are living with COPD and 260 million people are living with asthma.

COPD is the third leading cause of death globally, causing 3.7 million deaths in 2021.

Asthma deaths are less frequent but tend to occur in younger people and can be avoided. Half of all asthma deaths are "premature" - occurring in those aged below 70 years.

 

Risk factors such as exposure to tobacco smoke and air pollution cause new cases of CRDs and worsen existing disease. 

Prematurity, low-birth weight and lung infections during childhood can all affect lung development and increase the risk of CRDs.

 

The United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for:

Target 3.4. By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from NCDs through prevention and treatment

Target 3.8. Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all

 

However, access to diagnostic testing and inhaled medicines remains a challenge in many countries. Most recent data from WHO found that for low- and low-middle-income countries:

  • basic diagnostic tool are available in less than one-quarter of countries;
  • steroid inhalers are available in less than half of countries.

These essential resources for diagnosis and treatment must be available in primary health care, as part of universal health coverage. 

 

The Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases, is working together with WHO to reduce the global burden of CRDs.

For more resources, please visit Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases | Knowledge Action Portal on NCDs

KAP thematic collections are created, managed, and updated by individual platform users. Collection content, featured resources and image material are subject to the KAP community guidelines and the copyright code of conduct. Featuring resources and information in collections does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the KAP or the World Health Organization.
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