Lung Foundation Australia has partnered with international lung health organisations to support the Inaugural World Bronchiectasis Day, aimed at “Bringing the World together for Bronchiectasis”.
The global Bronchiectasis Community are hopeful that this day will play a key role in shining a light on this neglected but common chronic lung condition.
Bronchiectasis is characterised by dilated and scarred airways, chronic productive cough and recurrent chest infections. Once described as a rare disease, bronchiectasis affects hundreds of thousands of people around the world each year, and prevalence of the chronic lung condition is increasing globally.
Diagnosis is often delayed or misdiagnosed and this, combined with poor access to benchmark clinical care, can lead to progressive loss of lung function, long term disability, premature death and impaired quality of life for patients and their families.
Patients with bronchiectasis carry a heavy burden of symptoms and treatments. There is currently no cure, but strong evidence suggests that some treatments make a huge difference to quality of life and can slow the progression of disease.
Lung Foundation Australia Chair Professor Lucy Morgan says that partnering with lung health organisations across the globe is an important step forward in being able to address the critical unmet needs of the bronchiectasis community.
“We are committed to further understanding the impact of bronchiectasis on adults and children in Australia while striving to improve their quality of life and equitable access to evidence-based therapies,” Prof Morgan said.
“World Bronchiectasis Day is a great opportunity to join forces globally to not only raise awareness about the impact of bronchiectasis on our communities, but to strategically work together to reduce some of the burden.”
Geoff Drury who is living with bronchiectasis is hopeful that the day will bring a bit more attention to his condition.
“This is a great way to raise awareness and hopefully make even more progress in terms of treatments and clinical trials,”Mr Drury said.
“It’s not easy knowing you can’t live the way you used to, but it is encouraging to know that the burden might be different for future generations.”
Lung Foundation Australia had joined global partners including the COPD Foundation, American Thoracic Society, the Japanese Respiratory Society, American Lung Association, European Lung Foundation and NTM Info and Research and the European Multicenter Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration (EMBARC).
In recognition of this important global initiative, Lung Foundation Australia is launching registrations for a live Q&A session for people living with bronchiectasis and their carers called “Going into Battle with Bronchiectasis.”
This interactive online event, co-hosted by Professor Morgan, will connect the community with a panel of expert clinicians to ask questions that are important to them.