The Healthy Lungs for Life campaign is in Vienna this week (7-11 September 2024) as part of the ERS International Congress. Our activities launched today with a press conference outlining our activities in the city, along with sharing results from a groundbreaking study looking at the lung health of 15,000 people in Vienna.
On Thursday 5 September 2024, findings from the LEAD study were presented at the Healthy Lungs for Life press conference in Vienna. The study has frequently examined the lung function of over 2,000 people between the ages of 6 and 25 years, over a long-term period to look at how the lungs develop over time.
A key finding from the study revealed that 7.6% of adolescents had a lung function measurement that was already below the normal range. The foundation for healthy lungs begins in childhood as our lungs continue to develop until the age of 25. As children’s lungs are still developing, they are most sensitive to harmful environmental exposures such as smoking and air pollution.
Long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen reduced the lung function of all study participants, regardless of age. Despite improvements in air quality in Vienna over recent years, the current level of pollution in the city likely still has major impacts on lung function of Viennese citizens.
The LEAD study was conducted by the Vienna Health Association (WIGEV) together with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Health, in close cooperation with the European Respiratory Society. Similar to the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign, the LEAD study aims to promote lung health amongst the public and is investigating the lung health of 15,000 people in Vienna.
These findings are in line with the themes of this year’s ERS Congress, which puts a spotlight on child health. This will be explored in a ‘Wednesday special session’ on 11 September at the ERS Congress. Here, Monika Gappa, President of the European Respiratory Society, will lead a publicly accessible workshop on protective measures for the lung health of young people. Joined by Ed Powell, Chair of the ELF Youth Group, they will discuss what we can do as a community to ensure childhood lung health is placed higher on the political and public health agenda.
“Chronic lung diseases, especially asthma, in children are increasing. Acute infectious lung diseases that I see in the children’s clinic also cause considerable difficulties. Despite this, they do not receive enough attention from health policy, which is why the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign places an important emphasis on better prevention.” – Monika Gappa.
Director of the LEAD study, Dr Robab Breyer-Kohansal, recognized the risk of pollution to lung health, especially of children:
“Children’s organs and immune systems, which are still developing, make them particularly vulnerable to particulate matter. Long-term and short-term air pollution can exacerbate lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD and increase the risk of heart disease and cancer.” – Dr Robab Breyer-Kohansal.
The Healthy Lungs for Life campaign recognises air pollution as a key issue for lung health around the world. As part of the ERS Congress on the 7 and 8 September, the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign will be offering free spirometry tests in front of the Vienna Prater, to raise awareness of lung health and the importance of reducing air pollution. Furthermore, the campaign will visit local schools on the 9 and 10 September, allowing several hundred young people to have their lungs tested and teach them how they can keep their lungs healthy.
Learn more about the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign.
Learn more about our activities at the ERS Congress.
Photo credits: © APA / ELF
