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United States Value:
Percentage of adults who reported ever being told by a health professional that they had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or chronic bronchitis
Additional Measures:
Explore Population Data:
Appears In:
Percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported being told by a health professional that they had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or chronic bronchitis
8.0% - 10.7%
10.8% - 12.1%
12.2% - 12.9%
13.0% - 14.5%
14.6% - 19.3%
No Data
US Value: 6.5 %
Top State(s): California, Utah: 4.0 %
Bottom State(s): West Virginia: 12.6 %
Definition: Percentage of adults who reported ever being told by a health professional that they had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or chronic bronchitis
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that slowly damages air sacs in the lungs, decreasing airflow and making it difficult to breathe. Chronic lower respiratory diseases, mainly COPD, are the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States. The symptoms of COPD include difficulty catching breath, wheezing, chest tightness and having a chronic cough.
Risk factors for COPD include cigarette smoking, secondhand smoke exposure, exposure to smoke from burning fuels, asthma and long-term exposure to lung irritants. While COPD has no cure, its progress and symptoms can be managed. If left untreated, COPD may lead to other health complications, including respiratory infections, heart disease, lung cancer and depression.
Medical costs attributed to COPD among adults age 45 and older were estimated at $24 billion annually, with $11.9 billion of that going toward prescription drug costs.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, populations with a higher prevalence of COPD include:
The best way to prevent COPD is to never smoke or stop smoking immediately, no matter your age. The American Lung Association offers smoking cessation programs and provides COPD management tools to guide those with COPD through developing a treatment plan with their health care provider.
Strategies to treat and manage COPD include:
Healthy People 2030 has multiple goals related to respiratory diseases and COPD, including:
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
