http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23619732

Chest. 2013 Apr 25. doi: 10.1378/chest.13-0809. [Epub ahead of print]

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Surveillance-United States, 1999-2011.

Ford ES, Croft JB, Mannino DM, Wheaton AG, Zhang X, Giles WH.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

This report updates surveillance results for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the United States.

METHODS:

For 1999 to 2011, data from national data systems for adults aged ≥25 years were analyzed.

RESULTS:

In 2011, 6.5% of adults (∼13.7 million) reported having been diagnosed with COPD. From 1999 to 2011, the overall age-adjusted prevalence of having been diagnosed with COPD declined (p=0.019). In 2010, there were 10.3 million (494.8 per 10,000) physician office visits, 1.5 million (72.0 per 10,000) emergency room visits, and 699,000 (32.2 per 10,000) hospital discharges for COPD. From 1999-2010, no significant overall trends were noted for physician office visits and emergency room visits; however, the age-adjusted hospital discharge rate for COPD declined significantly (p=0.001). In 2010 there were 312,654 (11.2 per 1000) Medicare hospital discharge claims submitted for COPD. Medicare claims (1999-2010) declined overall (p=0.045), among men (p=0.022), and among enrollees aged 65-74 years (p=0.033). There were 133,575 deaths (63.1 per 100,000) from COPD in 2010. The overall age-adjusted death rate for COPD did not change during 1999-2010 (p=0.163). Death rates (1999-2010) increased among adults aged 45-54 years (p<0.001) and among American Indian/Alaska Natives (p=0.008) but declined among those aged 55-64 years (p=0.002) and 65-74 years (p<0.001), Hispanics (p=0.038), Asian/Pacific Islanders (p<0.001), and men (p=0.001). Geographic clustering of prevalence, Medicare hospitalizations, and deaths was observed.

CONCLUSION:

Declines in the age-adjusted prevalence, death rate in men, and hospitalizations for COPD since 1999 suggest progress in the prevention of COPD in the United States.