Overview Submission Instructions Recent Publications Frequently Asked Questions Research Topics

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Thorax

Thorax is an international journal from BMJ and the British Thoracic Society that publishes high impact clinical and experimental research across respiratory medicine and critical care, including paediatrics, immunology, pharmacology, pathology, surgery, and basic and translational mechanisms relevant to clinical practice.

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Subject Respiratory System

Impact Factor 7.7

Quartile Q1

Open Access Type Hybrid

ISSN 0040-6376

eISSN 1468-3296

Invitation Only No

Cost Range Open access under a Creative Commons licence: 4,370 GBP excluding VAT. No submission or page charges. Authors can also publish at no cost under the subscription model.

Submission Instructions

Thorax accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Original Research

Cover Letter A cover letter must be included. The cover letter must include a brief statement detailing the results and placing the data in clinical context, and it must note any conference presentation with the abstract reference if applicable.

Abstract Original Research articles must include an abstract. The abstract must be no more than 250 words. The abstract must be structured.

Manuscript Original Research articles must be up to 3,500 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. The manuscript must use the sections Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. A key messages section must appear after the abstract using the headings "What is already known on this topic," "What this study adds," and "How this study might affect research, practice or policy," and it must consist of no more than 3-5 sentences.

References Original Research articles may include up to 40 references.

Figures & Tables Figures are not limited but must be justified.

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State Of The Art Review

Cover Letter Cover letter must include a brief statement detailing the results and placing the data in clinical context and indicate whether the work has been presented at a conference, with the abstract reference if applicable.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be up to 300 words. Abstract must be structured.

Manuscript Manuscript must be up to 4,000 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Manuscript should state the search strategy and sources of the material covered, including databases, MeSH and free text search terms and filters, and reference lists from journals or books, and should state the criteria used to include or exclude studies.

References References must not exceed 100.

Figures & Tables There is no specific limit on tables or illustrations.

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Short Report

Cover Letter Cover letter must include a brief statement detailing the results and placing the data in clinical context, and it must note any conference presentation with the abstract reference if applicable.

Abstract Short Reports must include an abstract. Abstract must be 100 words. Abstract must be unstructured.

Manuscript Short Reports must be up to 1,000 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references.

References Short Reports must include no more than 10 references.

Figures & Tables Short Reports may include up to 3 tables or illustrations.

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Clinical Statements

Cover Letter A cover letter is required. The cover letter must note any conference presentation with the abstract reference if applicable and include a brief statement detailing the results and placing the data in clinical context.

Abstract Abstracts must be structured where appropriate.

Manuscript Clinical Statements have no fixed word count.

References Clinical Statements have no fixed number of references.

Figures & Tables Figures & Tables requirements are not specified.

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Bts Guidelines

Cover Letter Cover letter must include a brief statement detailing the results and placing the data in clinical context and must indicate whether the work has been presented at a conference with the abstract reference if applicable.

Abstract Abstract must be structured where appropriate.

Manuscript Manuscript has no fixed word count. Manuscript must be produced by a guideline development group according to GRADE guidelines.

References References have no fixed number.

Figures & Tables Figures & Tables requirements are not specified.

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Recent Publications

Establishing the top 10 research priorities for lung volume reduction treatment for people with COPD

Sara C Buttery, Richard Barraclough, Timothy J P Batchelor, Sofina Begum, Rocco Bilancia, Edward J Caruana, James W Dodd, Justin L Garner, Neil J Greening, Samuel v Kemp, Alan J B Kirk, Rod A Lawson, Babu Naidu, Christopher M Orton, Karen Redmond, Carole Ridge, Pallav L Shah, Jane s Watson, Nicholas S Hopkinson

10.1136/thorax-2026-224791

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Functional decline in COPD: looking beyond FEV ₁

Amy Attaway, Jessica Bon

10.1136/thorax-2026-225166

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The 2026 Tobacco and Vapes Act: on to the tobacco endgame

Parris J Williams, Nicholas S Hopkinson

10.1136/thorax-2026-225329

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Preterm birth, disrupted lung growth and the road to COPD

Dinh Son Bui, Jiaxin Li, Shyamali Dharmage

10.1136/thorax-2026-225167

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Periodic breathing at altitude is an adaptive response: lessons for similar conditions at sea level

Matthew T Naughton

10.1136/thorax-2026-225168

View Publication

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Median time to first decision with review: 57 days. Fast-track review is available for selected high-quality papers after discussion with the editors before submission.

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Is a cover letter required?

A covering letter is required and should state whether the work has been presented at a conference with the abstract reference if applicable, and include a brief statement detailing the results and placing the data in clinical context.

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What are the publication costs?

Open access Article Processing Charge: 4,370 GBP excluding VAT. Authors can also publish at no cost under the subscription model.

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Research Topics

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research Asthma and respiratory diseases Respiratory Support and Mechanisms Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Respiratory and Cough-Related Research Tracheal and airway disorders Neonatal Respiratory Health Research Pleural and Pulmonary Diseases Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Inhalation and Respiratory Drug Delivery Cystic Fibrosis Research Advances Medical Imaging and Pathology Studies Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Studies Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Treatments Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology Pediatric health and respiratory diseases Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research Neuroscience of respiration and sleep Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections Occupational and environmental lung diseases Respiratory viral infections research Air Quality and Health Impacts Airway Management and Intubation Techniques Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment