Incidence of COPD

COPD is a growing cause of disability and mortality. COPD is the forth leading cause of death in America. Among men 55 to 74 years old, COPD is the third leading cause of death. COPD is second only to coronary artery disease as the major cause of disability in the United States. According to the National Health Interview Study, COPD patients account for 5 % of all office visits and over 13 % of all hospitalized patients each year.

Each hospitalization carries a 5-10 % mortality risk. Once hospitalized, patients with severe COPD have a 30 % six-month mortality, a 50 % one-year mortality. Furthermore, there is over a 50 % chance of re-hospitalization within the next 6 months. After discharge from the hospital, less than 25 % of patients with severe COPD have any significant independence. Overall the cost of caring for patients with COPD has been estimated as high as 40 billion dollars annually with over 1.6 billion dollars for long term oxygen alone.