World Bronchiectasis Day 2023
On World Bronchiectasis Day, members of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies spotlight a lesser-known lung disease.
July 1, 2023
Glenview, IL – In support of the second annual World Bronchiectasis Day, July 1, the Forum
of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which the American College
of Chest Physicians (CHEST) is a founding member, is joining the COPD
Foundation and several global organizations to raise global awareness, share
knowledge and discuss ways to reduce the burden of bronchiectasis for
patients and their families worldwide.
A lesser-known chronic lung disease, bronchiectasis affects hundreds of
thousands of children and adults worldwide. Individuals living with
bronchiectasis experience recurring lung infections due to enlarged and
scarred airways which make it difficult to clear mucus properly.
Symptoms include
frequent coughing (often with thick, discolored mucus), sputum production,
breathlessness, repeat chest infections, increased tiredness, unexplained
fever, chills, sweats, weight loss and chest pain.
Although there is currently no cure, detecting and treating bronchiectasis
early can improve quality of life and long-term health.
"World Bronchiectasis Day was started with the intention of raising the
profile of bronchiectasis to aid clinicians and patients in more readily
recognizing its signs and symptoms,” said Jean Wright, MD, MBA, CEO of the
COPD Foundation and World Bronchiectasis Day founding partner. “I am
encouraged by the success of the first global educational campaign, but
there is more to be done. Often misdiagnosed as pneumonia, bronchiectasis
worsens over time. An accurate diagnosis is needed to begin treatments to
effectively manage the disease.”
The inaugural World Bronchiectasis Day, July 1, 2022, raised awareness for
bronchiectasis by sharing resources, including:
“CHEST is proud to support the second annual World Bronchiectasis Day,” says
Doreen Addrizzo-Harris, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest
Physicians. “Campaigns such as this one incite a global conversation and
raise recognition. Through increased awareness, we can do our part to
support those living with bronchiectasis and their families worldwide.”
The sixth
annual World Bronchiectasis & NTM Conference will
take place in New York City on July 18 to 20. This CME-accredited, in-person
and livestreaming course will feature the most up-to-date education in
bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections, including
original research presentations and more. Learn more, and
register to attend the conference.
About World Bronchiectasis Day
World Bronchiectasis Day, recognized annually on July 1, aims to raise
global awareness of bronchiectasis and help those with the disease and
others yet to be diagnosed through education, advocacy and a global
conversation focused on reducing the burden of bronchiectasis for patients
and their families worldwide.
To learn more about bronchiectasis and to support the annual World
Bronchiectasis Day, visit
worldbronchiectasisday.org.
About the American College of Chest Physicians
The American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST) is the global
leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases. Its
mission is to champion advanced clinical practice, education, communication
and research in chest medicine. It serves as an essential connection to
clinical knowledge and resources for its 19,000+ members from around the
world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care and sleep
medicine. For information about the American College of Chest Physicians,
and its flagship journal CHEST®, visit
chestnet.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).