呼吸系統(tǒng)疾病給全球數(shù)億人帶來(lái)了負(fù)擔(dān)。全世界有超過(guò)3.8億人患有慢性呼吸系統(tǒng)疾病，如哮喘和慢性阻塞性肺病（COPD）。世界衛(wèi)生組織（世衛(wèi)組織）估計(jì)，2005年有400萬(wàn)人死于慢性呼吸道疾病，這些數(shù)字在未來(lái)十年內(nèi)估計(jì)將增加30%。目前，肺炎和慢性阻塞性肺病是全球四大死亡原因中的兩個(gè)，以及艾滋病毒/艾滋病和心血管疾病。在艾滋病毒/艾滋病患者中，結(jié)核病每年造成25萬(wàn)人死亡。此外，世衛(wèi)組織最近的一項(xiàng)調(diào)查報(bào)告稱，全世界近四分之一的死亡和疾病總負(fù)擔(dān)可歸因于環(huán)境風(fēng)險(xiǎn)因素。同樣，慢性阻塞性肺病和下呼吸道感染等呼吸系統(tǒng)疾病也是導(dǎo)致死亡的主要原因之一。盡管人們知道吸煙是許多肺部疾病的主要危險(xiǎn)因素，但統(tǒng)計(jì)數(shù)據(jù)顯示，煙草流行在發(fā)展中國(guó)家正在增長(zhǎng)，在西方仍然很高。鑒于既定疾病的難以對(duì)付的性質(zhì)和新出現(xiàn)的威脅，例如過(guò)敏原的增加和潛在的全球禽流感大流行，呼吸醫(yī)學(xué)的重要性從未如此重要。對(duì)臨床醫(yī)生、研究人員和其他參與呼吸醫(yī)學(xué)的人來(lái)說(shuō)，挑戰(zhàn)在于了解該領(lǐng)域的最新進(jìn)展。呼吸醫(yī)學(xué)專(zhuān)家評(píng)論（ISSN1747-6348）提供了一個(gè)權(quán)威和集中的解決方案，為肺醫(yī)學(xué)的所有領(lǐng)域的參與者提供評(píng)論和分析。覆蓋范圍包括以下關(guān)鍵領(lǐng)域：?新療法和新興療法的前景?疾病流行病學(xué)?預(yù)防策略?慢性阻塞性肺病的各個(gè)方面，從患者自我管理到疾病和共病的全身效應(yīng)?改進(jìn)的診斷方法，包括成像技術(shù)、生物標(biāo)志物和生理測(cè)試。?呼吸道感染和耐藥性問(wèn)題治療進(jìn)展?職業(yè)和環(huán)境因素?吸煙干預(yù)和戒煙方法的進(jìn)展?特定人群的疾病和治療問(wèn)題，如兒童和老年人?呼吸重癥監(jiān)護(hù)?關(guān)于特定疾病領(lǐng)域的最新情況和進(jìn)展，包括哮喘、艾滋病相關(guān)疾病、囊性纖維化、慢性阻塞性肺病和睡眠呼吸障礙發(fā)病率。呼吸醫(yī)學(xué)專(zhuān)家評(píng)論提供了阻塞性、限制性、血管性和傳染性呼吸疾病領(lǐng)域的國(guó)際領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人的評(píng)估和結(jié)構(gòu)化評(píng)論。所有評(píng)論都要經(jīng)過(guò)同行評(píng)審，并根據(jù)行業(yè)領(lǐng)先的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)和時(shí)間表制作，以確保為該領(lǐng)域的專(zhuān)業(yè)人士提供完整的解決方案。

Respiratory disease imposes a global burden affecting hundreds of millions of people. More than 380 million people worldwide suffer from chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4 million deaths in 2005 were caused by chronic respiratory diseases, and these numbers are set to increase by an estimated 30% over the coming decade. Currently, pneumonia and COPD are two of the four leading causes of death worldwide, together with HIV/AIDS and cardiovascular disease. Among those with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis accounts for a quarter of a million deaths each year. Furthermore, a recent WHO survey reported that nearly a quarter of all deaths and of the total disease burden across the world can be attributed to environmental risk factors. Again, respiratory diseases such as COPD and lower respiratory infections were among the principal causes of death. Despite the fact that smoking is known to be the primary risk factor for many pulmonary diseases, statistics show that the tobacco epidemic is growing in the developing world and remains high in the West. Given the intractable nature of the established diseases and emerging threats, such as the rise in allergies and a potential global avian influenza pandemic, the importance of respiratory medicine has never been greater. The challenge for clinicians, researchers and others involved in respiratory medicine is to stay abreast of the latest developments in the field. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine (ISSN 1747-6348) provides an authoritative and focused solution, delivering commentary and analysis for those involved in all areas of pulmonary medicine. Coverage will include the following key areas: ? Prospects for new and emerging therapeutics ? Epidemiology of disease ? Preventive strategies ? All aspects of COPD, from patient self-management to systemic effects of the disease and comorbidities ? Improved diagnostic methods, including imaging techniques, biomarkers and physiological tests. ? Advances in the treatment of respiratory infections and drug resistance issues ? Occupational and environmental factors ? Progress in smoking intervention and cessation methods ? Disease and treatment issues for defined populations, such as children and the elderly ? Respiratory intensive and critical care ? Updates on the status and advances of specific disease areas, including asthma, HIV/AIDS-related disease, cystic fibrosis, COPD and sleep-disordered breathing morbidity Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine provides evaluated and structured commentary from international leaders in the fields of obstructive, restrictive, vascular and infectious respiratory diseases. All reviews are subject to peer review and produced to industry leading standards and timelines to ensure a complete solution for professionals working in the field.