Remembering an Icon – and the Toll of Chronic Respiratory Diseases
José Luis Castro
WHO Director-General Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases. Founder and Ex-CEO of Vital Strategies
I’ve been thinking about the New York Times story published earlier this week on the cause of death for iconic Irish singer Sinead O’Connor: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchial asthma.
O’Connor soared to fame in the 1990s as an outspoken activist and artist. But she is just one of the millions around the globe who succumb to these chronic conditions each day; the difference is that their stories seldom make headlines.
This gap in awareness is precisely why the World Health Organization 's (WHO) commitment to recognize and prioritize these diseases is an important step forward. In September, I’ll be assuming a new role as WHO Director-General Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases. These conditions, including COPD and asthma, affect nearly half a billion people worldwide today.
These illnesses are among the leading causes of mortality and disability, with COPD ranking as the third most common cause of death worldwide. In 2019 alone, COPD claimed 3.2 million lives, while asthma resulted in 500,000 fatalities. Despite their profound impact, these diseases have frequently been neglected in global health conversations, not receiving the recognition or resources they urgently need.
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In my new capacity at the WHO, I will focus on shining a light on more of the individuals around the globe suffering from chronic disease and scaling our work to integrate the diagnosis and management of asthma and COPD into primary health care. I look forward to partnering with organizations across sectors and regions to tackle the critical risks to lung health posed by tobacco smoke, air pollution, and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia.
As so many mourn the loss of a cultural icon, my hope is that we recognize the many around the globe who also needlessly suffer from these diseases. It's essential that we, as a society, recognize the burden of COPD and asthma and support efforts to combat them.
Global Public Affairs Head for Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Diseases
5moCongratulations on your new role at the WHO! Your focus on integrating asthma and COPD care into primary health systems is vital, especially given the growing burden of chronic diseases worldwide. Addressing the risks posed by tobacco, air pollution, and infectious diseases is a crucial step toward improving global lung health. Looking forward to meeting you in person at the European Respiratory Society Congress and discussing how we can collaborate in this important work!
Reversing climate change | Planetary health | Natural History Writer
5moJosé Luis Castro she remains the most powerful and outspoken singer of her generation.
Public Health and health policy specialist + Programme management
5moSuch an important topic. Thank you for highlighting that's its a disease caused by preventable risk factors, as you listed tobacco and air pollution as driving risks.
International Patient Engagement Advisor, PhD, MPH, MBA, MSc
5moSi true José Luis Castro … but it looks like nobody cares about the #respiratorycommunity 🥲
Keynote Speaker | Adjunct Columbia University School of Public Health | Award-Winning Author at Penguin Random House: The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses who Helped Cure Tuberculosis #endtb #gunsafety
5moThank you for highlighting this. My father had COPD and asthma for years. He eventually got small cell carcinoma, but I remember I would ask his doctor about the COPD and it seemed that nobody really took it seriously. He said “just tell him to take the inhaler.“ I don’t know if there was something more that could be done, but I think bringing weirdness to this condition. Life-threatening is really important so thank you.