16 million
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, is a serious lung condition that makes it difficult for a patient to breathe. Nearly 16 million people in the U.S. have COPD, according to the National Institute of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH). COPD is a chronic, progressive disease that causes air flow limitation (less air in and out of the airways). There is currently no cure for COPD, but there are ways to manage and treat the disease.
8 out of 10
Smoking accounts for as many as 8 out of 10 COPD-related deaths, and nearly 38% of the nearly 16 million adults diagnosed with COPD report current smoking habits, according to the CDC. COPD is a disease that gets worse over time, and quitting smoking has been shown to slow its progression. To prevent COPD, The American Lung Association recommends that if an individual currently smokes, they should take the necessary steps to quit. They also recommend protecting yourself from lung infections such as the flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19, and avoiding or reducing exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Treatment options for COPD, according to the American Lung Association, include medication, pulmonary rehabilitation, supplemental oxygen, noninvasive ventilation (NIV), endobronchial valve therapy (EBV), surgery, and more.
25%
Approximately 25% (3.8 million) of adults with COPD report never having smoked. Secondhand smoke and occupational and environmental exposures are also risk factors for developing COPD among smokers and nonsmokers alike. According to the CDC, the promotion of smoke-free environments, such as workplace intervention (raising awareness of workplace respiratory exposure, elimination of hazardous exposures) and reducing exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants can contribute to reducing the risk of COPD.
6th
In 2021, more than 138,000 people died from COPD, making it the sixth overall leading cause of death in the U.S.
2x
COPD is more than twice as common in rural areas than in urban/suburban areas. Air pollution from occupational exposures to dust, fumes, smoke, or chemicals from jobs including farming, mining, or manufacturing, as well as higher rates of smoking in rural communities, results in an increased risk of developing COPD, according to the NIH.
11.7 million
In 2022, 11.7 million people, or 4.6% of adults, reported a diagnosis of COPD, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema, according to the American Lung Association. When less air flows into the lungs, less oxygen gets to the body’s tissues. Early warning signs and symptoms of COPD, according to the American Lung Association, include shortness of breath, coughing that brings up phlegm, wheezing or chest tightness, fatigue, and reoccurring lung infections including acute bronchitis or pneumonia.