2010, the year of the lung: the European chapter.

Vol XVI N.o 2 Março/Abril 2010 Year of the Lung: A campaign all over the world Although, hundreds of millions of people suffer and millions die every year from respiratory diseases, Lung health has been neglected in public discourse and on the political and scientific agendas. In order to reverse this unacceptable global situation the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) which includes the European Respiratory Society (ERS) as well as the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), the Asociacion Latinoamericana del Torax (ALAT) and the IUATLD declared unanimously the year 2010 as the Year of the Lung. The main aim of this campaign is to increase the awareness of the Lung diseases worldwide. The health, social and economic burden caused by respiratory illness is immense globally and may lead in bankruptcy the health resources even in the well developed countries. It is well known that in contrast to other chronic diseases such as the cardiovascular, COPD is on an increase prevalence and mortality course. In addition, epidemiological data of other respiratory illness such as TuEditorial Editorial