Lung diseases are conditions that affect breathing and the function of the lungs. GACD focuses on non-communicable, chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Quick facts
Lung diseases are conditions that affect breathing and the function of the lungs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 3.9 million deaths annually due to chronic respiratory diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in particular.
Tobacco is a key risk factor and over 80% of the world’s tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
A scoping review by the GACD ‘COUNCIL III’ Lung diseases working group showed less than 70% of people living in LMICs are covered by available clinical guidelines.
What are lung diseases?
Lung diseases are conditions that affect breathing and the function of the lungs. GACD focuses on non-communicable, chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Lung Disease Prevalence
The WHO estimates that there are 3.9 million deaths annually due to chronic respiratory diseases and COPD in particular.
Globally, over 100 million men and nearly 70 million women are affected by COPD.
In 2015, over three million died of COPD globally; 90% of COPD-related deaths occurred in LMICs.
The WHO estimates that there are 250,000 deaths per year from asthma, mainly in LMICs. It is among the top twenty causes of disability in children globally.
Lung Disease Prevention
The likelihood of non-communicable lung diseases is increased by long-term exposure to harmful substances that damage the lungs, such as tobacco smoke, air pollution, and certain occupational chemicals and dusts. Tobacco is a key risk factor and kills more than eight million people each year. Over 80% of the world’s tobacco users live in LMICs. Chronic lung diseases caused by infectious agents – for example, tuberculosis – are largely transmitted by aerosol droplets. People who experienced frequent lower respiratory tract infections during childhood are at higher risk of developing a lung disease as adults.
Treatment for Lung Disease
Chronic lung diseases are not curable. Lung diseases are a large group of conditions, with different treatments for each. Asthma is typically managed with inhaled corticosteroids (‘inhalers’). Management for COPD can include tailored counselling to stop smoking tobacco, pulmonary rehabilitation plans, and oxygen therapy. Medication varies such as antibiotics, montelukast, theophylline, and steroids for severe asthma.
A scoping review by the GACD ‘COUNCIL III’ Lung diseases working group revealed a stark inequity: available clinical guidelines covered over 98% of people living in high-income countries, but less than 70% of people living in LMICs.
You can read more about the working group here and access the scoping review here.
How is GACD addressing the lung disease burden?
With the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases rapidly increasing, GACD launched a call for proposals on the prevention and management of chronic lung diseases in 2015, with a focus on implementation research that examines strategies for preventing and/or managing chronic lung diseases in LMICs and marginalised populations in high-income countries. The GACD invested $60 million in 17 projects conducted in 33 countries.
You can find out more about the GACD projects addressing lung disease by visiting our projects page.
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