Best Pulmonology Journals (2026): Ranked by Impact and Accessibility
A ranked guide to the top 12 pulmonology journals by impact factor, acceptance rate, APC, and review time, from AJRCCM and ERJ to accessible open-access options.
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Quick answer: Pulmonology covers a wide range of conditions and research types: asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer screening, respiratory infections, sleep medicine, and critical care. The journal landscape reflects this breadth, but it's dominated by two society journals (AJRCCM from ATS and ERJ from ERS) that together publish the bulk of high-impact respiratory research.
The post-pandemic era has left lasting imprints on pulmonology publishing. Respiratory infection research, long COVID, and critical care studies still compete for journal space alongside traditional respiratory medicine topics.
Elite tier (IF 15+)
These journals publish the trials and discoveries that change respiratory practice.
Top Pulmonology Journals Ranked
Rank | Journal | IF (2024) |
|---|---|---|
1 | The Lancet Respiratory Medicine | ~32.8 |
2 | American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine | ~19 |
3 | European Respiratory Journal | ~21.0 |
4 | Thorax | ~10 |
5 | CHEST | ~9 |
6 | American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology | ~6 |
7 | European Respiratory Review | ~10.4 |
8 | Respiratory Medicine | ~4 |
1. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (IF ~32.8)
The Lancet Respiratory Medicine is the highest-impact dedicated pulmonology journal. It publishes major clinical trials, global disease burden analyses, and respiratory research with broad clinical and public health implications. The journal wants papers that matter beyond pulmonology, with implications for primary care, public health, or healthcare systems.
Acceptance rate: ~5-7%. APC: None. Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Clinical respiratory trials, COPD, asthma, ILD, critical care, respiratory infections, global lung health.
2. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (IF ~19)
AJRCCM (the "Blue Journal") is the flagship journal of the American Thoracic Society (ATS). It's the most widely read and cited journal for pulmonologists in North America and publishes clinical trials, translational research, ATS guidelines, and basic respiratory science. AJRCCM covers both pulmonology and critical care, making it the natural home for ICU-related respiratory research.
AJRCCM publishes ATS/ERS joint guidelines, which drives significant citation volume.
Acceptance rate: ~10-12%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All pulmonology, critical care, ATS guidelines, COPD, asthma, ILD, pulmonary hypertension.
3. European Respiratory Journal (IF ~21.0)
ERJ is the flagship journal of the European Respiratory Society (ERS). It publishes clinical and translational respiratory research with a European perspective, ERS guidelines, and epidemiological studies. ERJ competes directly with AJRCCM for top-tier submissions and publishes across all respiratory subfields.
Acceptance rate: ~10-12%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All pulmonology, ERS guidelines, COPD, asthma, ILD, respiratory infections, sleep.
Strong tier (IF 5-15)
These journals publish excellent respiratory research within specific subfields.
4. Thorax (IF ~10)
Thorax (BMJ) is a strong general respiratory journal with a UK and Commonwealth readership. It publishes clinical research, epidemiology, and translational studies across all respiratory topics. Thorax is less selective than AJRCCM or ERJ but well-respected, and it provides a practical home for solid respiratory research that falls just short of the elite tier.
Acceptance rate: ~15-20%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-6 weeks. Scope: All pulmonology, clinical research, epidemiology, UK/Commonwealth perspective.
5. CHEST (IF ~9)
CHEST is the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). It covers pulmonary medicine, critical care, and sleep medicine. CHEST has a strong clinical focus and is widely read by practicing pulmonologists. The journal is particularly strong in interventional pulmonology, bronchoscopy, and critical care.
Acceptance rate: ~15%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-6 weeks. Scope: Pulmonary medicine, critical care, sleep medicine, interventional pulmonology.
6. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology (IF ~6)
AJRCMB (ATS) is the basic science counterpart to AJRCCM. It publishes cellular and molecular lung biology, respiratory immunology, and translational research. If your paper is about lung biology at the molecular or cellular level without direct clinical application, AJRCMB is the top specialty venue.
Acceptance rate: ~20%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Lung cell biology, respiratory immunology, airway biology, pulmonary vascular biology.
7. European Respiratory Review (IF ~10.4)
ERR (ERS) publishes review articles across all respiratory topics. It provides a venue for thorough reviews, educational content, and consensus statements within the ERS framework. If you're writing a respiratory review rather than a primary research article, ERR is a well-positioned option.
Acceptance rate: ~20% (mostly commissioned). APC: None. Review time: 6-10 weeks. Scope: Respiratory reviews, educational content, ERS perspectives.
8. Respiratory Medicine (IF ~4)
Respiratory Medicine is a broad-scope journal covering all areas of pulmonology. It publishes clinical research, clinical trials, and observational studies with a practical focus on respiratory care. The journal is more accessible than AJRCCM, ERJ, or Thorax, making it a good target for well-designed mid-tier research.
Acceptance rate: ~20-25%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All pulmonology, clinical focus, accessible.
9. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (IF ~11)
JACI publishes asthma research alongside allergy and clinical immunology. For asthma papers with an immunological or allergic component, JACI often provides a better audience than generalist pulmonology journals. Asthma phenotyping, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and allergic airway disease all fit.
Acceptance rate: ~12-15%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Asthma, allergy, airway immunology, eosinophilic disease.
10. Pulmonary Circulation (IF ~3)
Pulmonary Circulation is the journal of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute and covers pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary vascular disease, and right heart disease specifically. If your paper is about PAH, CTEPH, or pulmonary vascular biology, this specialized journal provides focused, expert peer review.
Acceptance rate: ~30%. APC: $2,100. Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary vascular disease, right heart.
11. Respiratory Research (IF ~4)
Respiratory Research is an established open-access journal (BioMed Central) covering all areas of respiratory medicine. It publishes clinical research, basic science, and translational studies. The journal is relatively accessible and provides open-access visibility.
Acceptance rate: ~30%. APC: $2,850. Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All pulmonology, open access, clinical and basic science.
12. ERJ Open Research (IF ~3)
ERJ Open Research is ERJ's open-access companion journal from ERS. It publishes respiratory research that meets good methodological standards within the ERS family. Staying in the ERS ecosystem ensures visibility at the ERS Congress and among European respiratory physicians.
Acceptance rate: ~30%. APC: $2,200. Review time: 4-6 weeks. Scope: All pulmonology, open access, ERS family.
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Decision framework
If your paper is a large clinical trial in respiratory medicine, start with The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (highest IF), AJRCCM (ATS), or ERJ (ERS). All three are top-tier for practice-changing evidence.
If your paper is about COPD, AJRCCM and ERJ both publish heavily in COPD. Thorax and CHEST are strong alternatives. For COPD biology, AJRCMB is the basic science option.
If your paper is about asthma, JACI is the strongest venue for allergic/immunological asthma research. AJRCCM and ERJ publish asthma trials. Thorax is good for asthma epidemiology.
If your paper is about interstitial lung disease, AJRCCM publishes the most ILD research, including IPF trials and ILD guidelines. ERJ is the European alternative. Thorax publishes mid-tier ILD research.
If your paper is about pulmonary hypertension, AJRCCM and ERJ publish major PH trials. Pulmonary Circulation is the specialty journal. CHEST also publishes PH clinical research.
If your paper is about critical care, AJRCCM covers critical care alongside pulmonology. Critical Care Medicine (IF ~8) and Intensive Care Medicine (IF ~27) are the dedicated critical care journals that should also be considered.
If your paper is about sleep medicine, CHEST and AJRCCM both publish sleep research. Sleep (IF ~5) and Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (IF ~4) are the sleep-specific alternatives.
If your paper is basic lung biology, AJRCMB is the top venue. For immunological aspects, consider JCI or Journal of Immunology.
Common mistakes pulmonology researchers make when choosing journals
Submitting critical care to pulmonology-only journals. Some respiratory journals focus on outpatient pulmonology. If your paper is about mechanical ventilation, ARDS, or ICU management, make sure the journal actually publishes critical care. AJRCCM and CHEST cover both, but others may not.
Ignoring disease-specific journals. Asthma research might get better traction at JACI than at a generalist respiratory journal. PH research might find more appropriate reviewers at Pulmonary Circulation. Don't default to generalist journals when specialty venues exist.
Not considering the ATS vs. ERS ecosystem. AJRCCM has AJRCMB and ATS journals. ERJ has ERJ Open Research and ERS journals. If the flagship rejects you, stay in the family. The reviewers and editors are often the same people you'll see at the annual congress.
Confusing Thorax with thoracic surgery. Thorax (BMJ) is a medical respiratory journal. For thoracic surgery research, consider Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery or Annals of Thoracic Surgery instead.
Submitting long COVID papers without respiratory focus. Long COVID spans multiple specialties. If your paper is specifically about persistent respiratory symptoms, AJRCCM and ERJ are appropriate. If it's about neurological, cardiac, or multi-system long COVID, consider general medical journals or specialty-specific venues.
Get your manuscript ready
Before submitting to any pulmonology journal, run your manuscript through a manuscript readiness and scope check to check formatting, reporting standards, and reference accuracy. Respiratory papers with pulmonary function data, imaging results, and clinical outcome measures benefit from a pre-submission quality check to catch inconsistencies before peer review.
How to choose from this list
- Match scope precisely. A pulmonology paper on clinical outcomes fits different journals than one on mechanisms.
- Check your constraints. Funder OA mandates, APC budgets, and timeline requirements all narrow the list.
- Prioritize your audience. The best journal is where researchers who should cite your work actually read.
- Be realistic about selectivity. If acceptance is <10%, have your backup journal identified before submitting.
Frequently asked questions
The top three are The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (IF ~38, highest-impact clinical respiratory), American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (IF ~19, ATS flagship), and European Respiratory Journal (IF ~16, ERS flagship). For most researchers, AJRCCM and ERJ are the primary targets.
In pulmonology, an IF above 15 is elite, 5-15 is strong, and 2-5 is solid and accessible. The field has benefited from post-pandemic citation boosts, especially for respiratory infection and critical care research.
Yes. ERJ Open Research (ERS, IF ~3) is the main society-backed OA option. BMC Pulmonary Medicine provides broad OA coverage. Respiratory Research (IF ~4) is an established OA journal in the field.
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