Because the frequency of major risk factors for respiratory diseases (eg, tobacco use) differs
across demographic groups (defined by socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, sexual …

Background: Health disparities, defined as a significant difference in health between
populations, are more common for diseases of the respiratory system than for those of other …

Health disparities related to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status persist and are
commonly encountered by practitioners of pediatric and adult pulmonary, critical care, and …

The respiratory system provides a large surface area for direct contact with airborne
environmental and occupational exposures. As such, pulmonary disease is a significant …

There is an important social imperative to study health differences and disparities in disease.
Disparities in health persist among races despite the improving health status of all …

There is expansive literature documenting the presence of health disparities, but there are
disproportionately few studies describing interventions to reduce disparity. In this narrative …

The Forum of International Respiratory Societies has released a report entitled Respiratory
Disease in the World: Realities of Today—Opportunities for Tomorrow. The report identifies …

Importance Air quality has improved and smoking rates have declined over the past half-
century in the US. It is unknown whether such secular improvements, and other policies …

The population living in Central Appalachia is disproportionately impacted by lung disease.
This is driven, in part, by occupational hazards and environmental exposures. However, it is …

The lungs are an internal organ in direct and unique communication with the external
environment. It is, therefore, unsurprising that they reflect the inequities of our surroundings …