Prevalence and Incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Prevalance of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:

13.5 million Americans (NHLBI)

Prevalance Rate:

approx 1 in 20 or 4.96% or 13.5 million people in USA [about data]

Prevalance of types of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:

For details see prevalence of types of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease analysis; summary of available prevalence data:

• Chronic bronchitis: 12.1 million Americans (NHLBI)
• Pulmonary emphysema: 2 million Americans (NHLBI); 17 per 1000 - NHIS95; 2 million annually

Undiagnosed prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:

15 million undiagnosed or in early stages

Undiagnosed prevalence rate:

approx 1 in 18 or 5.51% or 15 million people in USA [about data]

Prevalance of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:

More than 13.5 million Americans are thought to have COPD. (Source: excerpt from What is COPD: NHLBI)

Prevalence/Incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review the full text of medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Predisposing factors include cigarette smoking, recurrent or chronic respiratory infections, air pollution, occupational exposure to chemicals, and allergies. Smoking is by far the most important of these factors — it impairs ciliary action and macrophage function, inflames airways, increases mucus production, destroys alveolar septae, and causes peribronchiolar fibrosis. Early inflammatory changes may reverse if the patient stops smoking before lung destruction is extensive. Familial and hereditary factors (such as deficiency of alpha₁-antitrypsin) may also predispose a person to COPD.

The most common chronic lung disease, COPD (also known as chronic obstructive lung disease) affects an estimated 17 million Americans, and its incidence is rising. It affects more males than females, probably because until recently men were more likely to smoke heavily. COPD occurs mostly in people older than age 40.

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Acute respiratory failure in COPD: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

ARF may develop in patients with COPD as a result of any condition that increases the work of breathing and decreases the respiratory drive. Such conditions include respiratory tract infection (such as bronchitis or pneumonia). The most common precipitating factor is bronchospasm, or accumulating secretions secondary to cough suppression. Other causes of ARF in COPD include:

❑ central nervous system (CNS) depression — head trauma or injudicious use of sedatives, opioids, tranquilizers, or oxygen (O₂)

❑ cardiovascular disorders — myocardial infarction, heart failure, or pulmonary emboli

❑ airway irritants — smoke or fumes

❑ endocrine and metabolic disorders — myxedema or metabolic alkalosis

❑ thoracic abnormalities — chest trauma, pneumothorax, or thoracic or abdominal surgery.

The incidence of ARF increases markedly with age and is especially high among people age 65 and older.

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Whooping cough: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Whooping cough is usually transmitted by the direct inhalation of contaminated droplets from a patient in the acute stage; it may also be spread indirectly through soiled linen and other articles contaminated by respiratory secretions.

Whooping cough is endemic throughout the world, usually occurring in late winter and early spring. In about 50% of cases, it strikes unimmunized children younger than age 1, because the immunization series hasn’t been completed and the child has had contact with an adult harboring the organisms.

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Prevelance statistics for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:

The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:

• 11.4 million with COPD including 9.4 million with chronic bronchitis and 3.1 million with emphysema (NHLBI)
• 3.6% of population self-reported having bronchitis or emphysema in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 3.5% of male population self-reported having bronchitis or emphysema in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 3.6% of female population self-reported having bronchitis or emphysema in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 665,000 people self-reported having bronchitis or emphysema in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 316,000 men self-reported having bronchitis or emphysema in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 349,000 women self-reported having bronchitis or emphysema in Australia 2001 (ABS 2001 National Health Survey, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)

About prevalence and incidence statistics:

The term 'prevalence' of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.