In this short report, we reviewed the literature on the consequences of poor compliance in chronic respiratory diseases. Unquestionably, poor compliance is a very significant medical issue in the management of tuberculosis. Poor compliance could cause serious personal and public health problems and is probably the major obstacle to the elimination of tuberculosis. Similarly, important consequences have been attributed to poor compliance with prescribed treatment in bronchial asthma. Those consequences could vary from impairment of daily life to life threatening attacks and death. However, it is difficult to apply methods to produce solid evidence that such consequences are the result of poor compliance. In conclusion a greater number of well designed studies are needed to investigate the various consequences of poor compliance in chronic respiratory diseases; a major issue that undoubtedly affects the outcome of treatment.