The Concept of Lung Health and A Population-based Approach

Abstract

Both acute and chronic respiratory diseases account for a large chunk of global morbidity, mortality and disease burden worldwide and impact healthcare systems in terms of resource utilization and economic loss. Lung health is an old concept which has first been defined in the twenty-first century and encompasses strategies that either keep the respiratory system disease-free or attempt to arrest the rate of lung function decline in individuals. Lung health, just like breath, begins at the time of birth and lasts until death, from “womb to tomb”.  Several measures, attributes and interventions have been touted for lung health and a good number of them are evidence-based. Incorporation of lung health strategies into public health programs at the primary level might go a long way in reducing respiratory disease burden worldwide as well as improving resource optimization in developing countries.