Introduction to Chronic Respiratory Diseases: A Pressing Need for Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer are among the leading causes of global mortality and morbidity, whereby these diseases have brought enormous healthcare, economic, and social burden in many countries. Multiple components of the respiratory system are affected by chronic respiratory diseases, which include the respiratory airways, lung parenchyma, as well as pulmonary vasculature. Recent advances in medical research have led to the development of various pharmacotherapeutic agents for the management of chronic respiratory diseases, such as bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and antibiotics. Despite that, the use of conventional therapeutics has been futile as they are only capable of alleviating the symptoms associated with the diseases but did not effectively cure or prevent the progression of these diseases. This chapter discusses the pathogenesis of various chronic respiratory disorders and the limitations of current therapeutic strategies.