Introduction to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Facts about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States in people between the ages of 65-84.

• Approximately 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from COPD (16 million diagnosed cases plus an estimated 14 million undiagnosed cases).

• Of the 16 million diagnosed cases of COPD about 88% suffer from chronic bronchitis while about 12% suffer from emphysema.

• In 2002, there were approximately 124,000 deaths in the U.S. and about 2.7 million deaths worldwide that were attributed to COPD.

• COPD is a leading cause of doctor visits and hospitalizations in the U.S. each year. The total estimated costs to the U.S. health care system for taking care of people with COPD is over $15 billion annually.

• The primary cause of COPD is cigarette smoking and about 80% of cases of COPD in the U.S. occur in people who are current or former smokers.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that exposure to second-hand smoke increases a person's risk for developing COPD by up to 43%.