Respiratory Societies Unite to Raise Awareness on World Bronchiectasis Day 2026
On World Bronchiectasis Day, members of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) bring attention to a chronic lung disease affecting people worldwide
July 1, 2026
GLENVIEW, IL – In support of the fifth 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 Bronchiectasis and NTM Association and several international organizations to raise global awareness, share knowledge, and encourage continued research 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 and 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.
According to a 2023 study, the most common cause of bronchiectasis was postinfective disease. A smaller percentage of the study participants were classified as idiopathic. Compared with other regions, patients in central and eastern Europe had more severe bronchiectasis measured by a Bronchiectasis Severity Index and more exacerbations leading to hospitalizations. The study calls for more research and future therapeutic development to understand differences in patient characteristics, treatment, and outcomes across the world.
“World Bronchiectasis Day provides an important opportunity to increase awareness of a disease that can have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life,” said Guy Marks, President of FIRS. “Through global alliance, we can bring together patients, clinicians, researchers, and advocacy organizations to advance education, improve access to care, and accelerate progress in bronchiectasis research.”
As part of this year’s observance, organizations across the international respiratory community are sharing educational resources, patient stories, research updates, advocacy initiatives, and community events designed to improve understanding of bronchiectasis and support those affected by the disease.
A full calendar of activities can be found on the World Bronchiectasis Day website run by the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association.
CHEST offers a range of educational resources to support clinicians caring for patients with bronchiectasis, including:
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 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 the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases through education, communication, and research. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 18,000+ members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. For information about CHEST and its family of journals, including the flagship journal CHEST®, visit chestnet.org.
About the Forum of International Respiratory Societies
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is an organization comprising the world's leading international respiratory societies working together to improve lung health globally: American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), 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), Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).
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.