Clinical Research & Literature — Respiratory
Global Respiratory Diseases
A range of chronic diseases affecting the airways and other structures of the lungs.
Clinical Research & Literature — Respiratory
Global Respiratory Diseases
A range of chronic diseases affecting the airways and other structures of the lungs.
Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) are worldwide among the most common non-communicable diseases. CRDs describe a range of chronic diseases affecting the airways and other structures of the lungs. Some of the most common diseases are asthma and respiratory allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and occupational lung diseases.¹
Prevalence and attributable health burden of chronic respiratory diseases²
Chronic respiratory diseases remain a leading cause of disability and death worldwide, with the highest prevalence (10-11% of the population or higher) observed in high-income regions. In 2017 around 550 million people worldwide had a chronic respiratory disease. This shows an increase of 39.8% compared with the year 1990. The lowest prevalence is seen in the sub-Sahara Africa and south Asia. COPD and asthma remain the most prevalent disease-specific chronic respiratory disease worldwide. Chronic respiratory diseases are ranked the third leading cause of death in 2017, with COPD being the most common cause.
Air pollution and chronic airway diseases: what should people know and do?³
Air pollution and its effects on health remain a public concern worldwide. Around seven million deaths globally were attributable to joint effects of household and ambient air pollution. Air pollution can induce the onset of asthma, acute exacerbation of COPD, and increase the respiratory morbidity and mortality. The effects on health due to air pollution depends largely on the components and sources of pollutants, which is different in countries, seasons, and times. This article provides more information on the components and sources of air pollution, and the impact of it on health.
Acute Respiratory Diseases
Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a type of infection which causes trouble in breathing function. Usually this occurs in the upper respiratory tract, with symptoms including congestion, runny nose, cough, sore throat, and fatigue. Upper respiratory infections are mostly of viral etiology. They could include common cold, sinusitis and pharyngitis. Lower respiratory infections are either viral or bacterial. Common lower respiratory infections include bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia.⁴
The Global Impact of Respiratory Disease: Acute lower respiratory tract infection⁵
According to the WHO, lower respiratory tract infection and pneumonia are two of the leading causes of death, accounting for more than 4 million fatalities annually. This occurs particularly in low-and middle-income countries. It is also the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age, outside the neonatal period. In 2015, pneumonia killed 920,136 children aged under 5. Factors increasing the risk of pneumonia include either the very young or elderly, crowded living conditions, malnutrition, HIV infection, lack of immunisation and lack of breast-feeding in infants. Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most frequent bacterial cause of pneumonia. Also, HIV infection even increases the risk of getting a pneumonia by twentyfold. In this article of the WHO you can find more information regarding prevention, treatment, control, and elimination of acute lower respiratory tract infection.
Signs and Symptoms that Differentiate Acute Sinusitis from Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infection⁶
Differentiating viral upper respiratory tract infection from acute bacterial sinusitis is quite challenging. About 20 to 40% of children who are diagnosed with acute sinusitis, are likely to have an uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection. This study shows that severity of symptoms correlates with radiographic diagnosis. Children presenting with mild symptoms are less likely to have bacterial sinusitis, and therefore are less likely to benefit from antibiotics. Also, this paper states that children without green nasal discharge or without disturbed sleep are somewhat more likely to have an uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection than children with these findings.
Pediatric Asthma and Viral Infection⁷
The most important risk factors for the onset of wheezing in infants and small children are respiratory viral infections, particularly respiratory syncytial virus, and rhinovirus. Bronchiolitis is the most common acute respiratory infection and most common cause of hospitalization in children under 1 year of age. Respiratory viruses, particularly rhinovirus, are the most common causes of exacerbations in children: in over 90% of children hospitalized for an episode of wheezing were identified with such a virus. This article aims to review the role of viruses as precipitating factors for asthma, and their role in asthma exacerbations.
Main takeaways
Global Respiratory Diseases
Chronic respiratory diseases remain a leading cause of disability and death worldwide.²
Highest prevalence is seen in high-income countries (10 to 11% of the population or higher).²
Chronic respiratory diseases are ranked the third leading cause of death in 2017.²
Lower respiratory tract infection count for more than 4 million fatalities annually.⁵
In 2015, pneumonia killed 920,136 children aged under 5.⁵
In over 90% of children hospitalized for an episode of wheezing, a respiratory infection virus was identified.⁷
