Lung Facts updated with latest evidence on respiratory disease across 21 countries

The International Respiratory Coalition (IRC) has updated its Lung Facts platform with the latest evidence on the burden of respiratory disease across 21 countries, providing policymakers, clinicians and patient advocates with updated data to drive national-level policy action on lung health.

Lung Facts brings together data across a broad range of respiratory conditions and countries in a consistent format, making it possible to look beyond individual diseases and understand the wider burden of respiratory disease, including its societal and economic impact.

The latest update, which is based on Global Burden of Disease (GBD, 2023) data, shows that across the WHO European region:

• Total burden of eight major lung conditions: There were an estimated 97 million cases of respiratory disease across 53 countries in the WHO European Region in 2023, with around 1.28 million deaths
• Most prevalent diseases: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were among the most common conditions, with an estimated 56.2 million and 38.4 million cases, respectively
• Highest deaths: Lung cancer accounted for more than a third of all respiratory disease deaths (495,000), followed by COPD (332,400) and lower respiratory infections (277,500)
• Economic impact: The estimated societal cost of disease burden in Europe was €794.6 billion

The scale of respiratory disease in Europe is striking. The data shows there were around 97 million cases of respiratory disease in the region in 2023, with the societal cost estimated at €795 billion annually. Behind these statistics are real people facing challenges like delayed diagnoses, difficulty accessing appropriate care, and living with disease that could have been prevented. That is why we are also focusing on disability-adjusted life years and calculating the societal impact of this burden, to help policymakers understand the financial resources needed. Lung Facts makes this burden visible and brings the evidence together to strengthen the case for earlier action, better care and greater investment in respiratory health."

Anita Simonds, Professor and IRC Chair and Honorary Consultant, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital 

Turning data into action

Lung Facts enables users to access country data, identify where action is most needed, and build a strong case for better care and investment. This approach is already making a difference.

In Belgium, the country’s national respiratory coalition used Lung Facts to help raise awareness and win political support for action on lung health. The coalition is now working towards a national chronic respiratory diseases plan focused on prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and long-term care.

In Poland, Lung Facts data enabled the Polish Healthy Lungs Coalition to create a ‘Manifesto for Healthy Lungs,’ which they presented in parliament; the manifesto also led to a joint ‘Letter of Intent’ between the WHO and the Polish Respiratory Society. The coalition’s efforts strengthened commitments from national and international health leaders, and helped secure permanent public funding for low-dose CT lung cancer screening nationally, making it a guaranteed part of Poland’s healthcare system for the first time.

Kjeld Hansen, former Chair of the European Lung Foundation, said: “The goals of the lived experience community, alongside the health professional community, are obvious: we want better prevention, earlier diagnosis, and access to care that means those living with a lung condition can live a quality life.

"But achieving that requires aligning facts with the experiences of those living with a lung condition. Evidence can show policymakers, clearly and at the national level, what the burden looks like in numbers and where the gaps are. This supports advocates in their conversations with policymakers about taking urgent and precise action on lung health.”