19 May 2026
Three new papers published across leading respiratory publications provide the most detailed account yet of the data, methodology and real-world impact behind Lung Facts, the International Respiratory Coalition’s open-access platform for respiratory disease statistics.
The papers make the case that consistent, comparable data is essential for building national arguments for investment in respiratory health, and show that Lung Facts is already delivering results.
The data and what it shows
A peer-reviewed paper in ERJ Open Research explains the data behind Lung Facts, including where it comes from, how it was gathered, and what it shows about the state of tackling lung disease across countries.
Lung Facts covers 14 respiratory conditions and draws on data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, the most widely used international source of population health statistics, as well as epidemiological economic data from the WHO European region. For conditions not covered by the GBD — including bronchiectasis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and others — the research team conducted a systematic review of published medical literature to find the best available evidence. In some cases the picture is incomplete: data on alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency was available for only 24 of 53 countries, and bronchiectasis data covered as few as one to five countries, highlighting significant gaps in these disease areas.
The paper also explains the methodology behind Lung Facts’ societal cost figures, which use each country’s GDP per capita and DALY (disability-adjusted life year) burden to estimate an amount which could be invested in respiratory health to tackle the burden of each condition. These figures are intended to give policymakers a concrete case for investment in respiratory care.
The policy context
An accompanying editorial in the European Respiratory Journal, written by senior figures from the European Respiratory Society and European Lung Foundation, places the platform in its broader context.
It describes Lung Facts as a tool for national coalitions, clinicians and policymakers to build evidence-based arguments for investment in respiratory care, and documents early examples of impact.
The editorial highlights several activities of IRC-supported national coalitions, including in:
- Belgium: data presented at the Chamber of Representatives on World COPD Day in 2024 contributed to a call for a national respiratory disease plan.
- Austria: national data prompted an initiative to develop a vaccination action plan.
- Moldova: the figures supported the launch of the country’s first sleep medicine centre.
Impact on the ground
A third article, published in Breathe, provides a practical guide to using Lung Facts, describing three clear applications: demonstrating disease burden, benchmarking performance across countries, and supporting investment arguments using the societal cost figures.
The article further documents Lung Facts use across European countries, highlighting how Lung Facts was used in advocacy activities:
- Poland: Lung Facts contributed to a 2025 parliamentary manifesto on lung health that resulted in a letter of intent signed between the WHO and the Polish Respiratory Society.
- France: data was presented at a parliamentary event in Paris in October 2025.
- Ukraine: Lung Facts was used at a patient-clinician conference in Lviv in 2024 to make the case for national coordination of respiratory care.
Anita Simonds, Chair of the International Respiratory Committee, said:
“When the IRC was founded, we identified a clear need for valid, comparable data and statistics that national coalitions could use to advocate for respiratory strategies in their own countries. These publications show that Lung Facts is fulfilling that role. We are already seeing the data translated into real policy change, and we are committed to continuing to expand the resource as the evidence base grows.”
Lung Facts data is accessible to all and is updated on a two-year cycle; updated statistics are set to be published later in 2026.
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