COPD Trends Brief: Risk Factors and Patient Characteristics
COPD rates are not the same across demographic groups. This page describes COPD rates in different categories.COPD Rates
- Most COPD cases are caused by cigarette smoking. Compared to never smokers, COPD rates in 2022 were 7 times higher among current smokers and 4 times higher among former smokers.
- In 2022, COPD rates were lowest among those with a family income two times greater than the poverty threshold or more compared to those with lower family incomes.
- Psychiatric comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety, are common among those with COPD. In 2022, 49.5% of those with COPD reported ever being diagnosed with anxiety or depression, compared to 22.7% among those without COPD.
- COPD can severely limit one’s ability to work, get around, do chores, or manage personal care. In 2022, over a third (35.1%) of those with COPD reported having at least one disability, compared to only 8.0% among those without COPD.
Vaccinations
- Those with COPD are at increased risk for complications from influenza and are recommended to receive annual vaccination against the seasonal flu. In 2022, over half (57.3%) of those with COPD reported receiving a flu vaccination in the last year, compared to 46.7% among those without COPD.
- Those with COPD are at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia infection and are recommended to be vaccinated against it. In 2022, 58.6% of those with COPD had received a shot for pneumococcal pneumonia, compared to 22.2% among those without COPD.
COPD by State
- In 2021, COPD rates among adults ranged from 3.5% in Hawaii to 13.1% in West Virginia.
COPD Prevalence, 2021
Percent of adults ever diagnosed with COPD
American Lung Association Research Team analysis of CDC data: BRFSS 2021