What it is
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a group of
diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. It
includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and in some cases asthma.
COPD is a leading
cause of death, illness, and disability in the United States. In 2000,
119,000 deaths, 726,000 hospitalizations, and 1.5 million hospital
emergency departments visits were caused by COPD. An additional 8
million cases of hospital outpatient treatment or treatment by personal
physicians were linked to COPD in 2000.
What causes it
In the United States,
tobacco use is a key factor in the development and progression of COPD,
but asthma, exposure to air pollutants in the home and workplace,
genetic factors, and respiratory infections also play a role. In the
developing world, indoor air quality is thought to play a larger role in
the development and progression of COPD than it does in the United
States.
Who has it
In the United States,
an estimated 10 million adults were diagnosed with COPD in 2000, but
data from a national health survey suggest that as many as 24 million
Americans are affected.
From 1980 to 2000,
the COPD death rate for women grew much faster than the rate for men.
For U.S. women, the rate rose from 20.1 deaths per 100,000 women to 56.7
deaths per 100,000 women over that 20-year span, while for men the rate
grew from 73.0 deaths per 100,000 men to 82.6 deaths per 100,000 men.
U.S. women also had
more COPD hospitalizations (404,000) than men (322,000) and more
emergency department visits (898,000) than men (551,000) in 2000.
Additionally, 2000 marked the first year in which more women (59,936)
than men (59,118) died from COPD.
However, the
proportion of the U.S. population aged 25-54, both male and female, with
mild or moderate COPD has declined over the past quarter century,
suggesting that increases in hospitalizations and deaths might not
continue.
Why women’s COPD
rates are rising so much faster than men’s
These increases
probably reflect the increase in smoking by women, relative to men,
since the 1940s. In the United States, a history of currently or
formerly smoking is the risk factor most often linked to COPD, and the
increase in the number of women smoking over the past half-century is
mirrored in the increase in COPD rates among women. The decreases in
rates of mild and moderate COPD in both men and women aged 25-54 in the
past quarter century reflect the decrease in overall smoking rates in
the United States since the 1960s.
How COPD can be
prevented
Early detection of
COPD might alter its course and progress. A simple test can be used to
measure pulmonary function and detect COPD in current and former smokers
aged 45 and over and anyone with respiratory problems. Avoiding tobacco
smoke, home and workplace air pollutants, and respiratory infections are
key to preventing the initial development of COPD.
How COPD is treated
Treatment of COPD
requires a careful and thorough evaluation by a physician. The most
important aspect of treatment is avoiding tobacco smoke and removing
other air pollutants from the patient’s home or workplace. Symptoms such
as coughing or wheezing can be treated with medication. Respiratory
infections should be treated with antibiotics, if appropriate. Patients
who have low blood oxygen levels in their blood are often given
supplemental oxygen.
To learn more about
COPD, visit these sites:
•
American Lung Association
• Global Initiative for Chronic
Obstructive Lung Disease
•
National Institutes of Health
• National Lung Health Education Program
• U.S. COPD Coalition
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