World Bronchiectasis Day (July 1) was established in 2022 to raise awareness of bronchiectasis and its increased prevalence in many countries.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways
- World Bronchiectasis Day, established in 2022, aims to raise awareness of bronchiectasis, a chronic lung disease with increasing prevalence globally.
- This year’s focus is on empowering people with bronchiectasis by sharing resources on self-management, mental health, physical activity, and nutrition.
- The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), Bronchiectasis and NTM Association, COPD Foundation, and global partners are dedicated to providing educational resources and fostering a supportive community for those living with bronchiectasis.
In support of World Bronchiectasis Day, July 1, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is calling attention to the growing burden of this lesser-known chronic lung disease and the urgent need for increased awareness, diagnosis and coordinated care.
2025 marks the fourth year of World Bronchiectasis Day, which was established in 2022 to raise awareness of bronchiectasis, a chronic lung disease with increasing prevalence globally.
According to the 2022 Global Impact of Respiratory Disease Report, the global presence of non–cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis ranges from 67 to 566 per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe and North America and from 1,200 per 100,000 inhabitants in China in those aged 40 or older.
Bronchiectasis is a lung disease that affects hundreds of thousands of children and adults worldwide. With this chronic illness, the airways become enlarged or scarred, making it difficult to clear mucus properly, leading to recurring lung infections and affecting daily life.
Unmanaged, bronchiectasis can lead to accelerated lung function loss resulting in long-term disability and premature death. The disease can occur at any age, though most people are diagnosed later in life. Although there is currently no cure, detecting and treating bronchiectasis early can improve quality of life and improve long term health.
“Bronchiectasis continues to be a widely misunderstood and underdiagnosed respiratory disease, affecting individuals around the world,” says Guy Marks, President of FIRS. “As global leaders in respiratory health, World Bronchiectasis Day is an opportunity for us to spotlight this chronic lung disease and the people it impacts. We stand together to advocate for better care pathways, patient education and research funding.”
Celebrated annually on July 1, World Bronchiectasis Day aims to unite healthcare providers, researchers, patients and advocacy organizations in a shared mission: to improve early detection, foster research into the causes and treatments of bronchiectasis, and ensure that patients across all regions have access to comprehensive, multidisciplinary care.
It is estimated that more than 1 million people are diagnosed with bronchiectasis worldwide, and of those, 340,000 to 522,000 are adults in the US.
The Bronchiectasis and NTM Association is joining 25 global patient advocacy organizations and professional societies to recognize the fourth annual World Bronchiectasis Day.
“World Bronchiectasis Day is about bringing the global community together to raise awareness about a condition that too often goes undiagnosed or misunderstood,” said Tim Aksamit, MD, medical director of the Bronchiectasis and NTM Association and a pulmonology and critical care medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “As the number of people diagnosed with bronchiectasis continues to grow, raising awareness and improving education are more important than ever. Through shared knowledge and resources, we can help improve care and quality of life for people affected by bronchiectasis.”
To learn more about bronchiectasis and to support annual World Bronchiectasis Day, visit worldbronchiectasisday.org.
