the essential epidemiological figures for all who work in respiratory diseases. It should also be used to increase the visibility of respiratory medicine, and could serve as a basis in political negotiations about the need for increasing budgets for respiratory medicine. I want to congratulate the Guest Editors Isabella Annesi-Maesano, Bo Lundba ¨ck and Giovanni Viegi for their tremendous work in setting up this important Monograph. I am convinced that readers will find it useful in their daily work. x