The American Lung Association released the COPD State Briefs, highlighting the states with the highest chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rates and opportunities to improve the burden of the disease.
Eleven states have the highest COPD prevalence in the country:
| State | COPD prevalence (% of adult population) |
| 10(t). Indiana | 8.5% |
| 10(t). Missouri | 8.5% |
| 9. Ohio | 8.6% |
| 8. Louisiana | 8.7% |
| 7. Maine | 9.0% |
| 6. Mississippi | 9.1% |
| 5. Alabama | 9.4% |
| 4. Arkansas | 9.6% |
| 3. Tennessee | 10.4% |
| 2. Kentucky | 10.9% |
| 1. West Virginia | 13.1% |
State prevalence rates range from 3.7% in Hawaii to 13.6% in West Virginia.
The COPD State Briefs also include data about prevention, diagnosis, health outcomes, and treatment of the disease for all 50 states and Washington, DC.
“A COPD diagnosis can be devastating for an individual and their family to hear, but thankfully there is new research into prevention and treatment to help improve the lives of people living with this disease,” says Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, in a release. “These new state briefs highlight key indicators for COPD, such as air quality, tobacco use, education, income level, and vaccination rate, which can help us determine where to focus our prevention efforts and help those most impacted by the disease.”
The goal of the COPD State Briefs is to raise awareness for COPD and empower public health and healthcare professionals to take actionable steps to prevent the onset of illness, reduce health inequities, set goals for earlier diagnosis and ensure clinical guidelines are used to manage and treat COPD, including:
- Use a validated COPD screening tool for people who may be at risk of COPD or reporting symptoms.
- Confirm a COPD diagnosis using spirometry, especially in primary care.
- Use evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation services.
- Promote recommended vaccinations.
- Recommend pulmonary rehabilitation, COPD education, and a COPD Action Plan.
COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. There is currently no cure for COPD, but the disease is treatable. Approximately 5% of adults or 12.5 million Americans are living with COPD. COPD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, resulting in 536,000 hospitalizations and 139,000 deaths.
The COPD State Briefs were created with support by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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