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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Women
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Women in United States
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Women in depth:

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Women by State

Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or chronic bronchitis




Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Women Trends

Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or chronic bronchitis


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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Women







About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Women

US Value: 2.9%

Top State(s): Idaho: 1.2%

Bottom State(s): Mississippi: 5.7%

Definition: Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or chronic bronchitis

Data Source and Years: CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2019-2020

Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2023.

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. COPD is a leading cause of death in the United States. The symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, needing to clear the throat frequently and having a chronic cough. Risk factors for COPD include asthma, cigarette smoking, secondhand smoke exposure, exposure to smoke from burning fuels and long-term exposure to lung irritants. 

COPD is more common among women than men, and women are often underdiagnosed or diagnosed later than men. Women with early-onset COPD tend to have more severe symptoms than men with early-onset COPD. Women with COPD also have increased risk of other health conditions, including heart disease, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression. Adults with COPD are more likely to be unable to work than those without COPD. 

Medical costs attributable to COPD were projected to increase from $32.1 billion in 2010 to $49 billion in 2020.

The prevalence of COPD is higher among: 

  • Women ages 35-44 compared with women ages 18-24 and 25-34. 
  • Multiracial, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Black and white women compared with Hispanic and Asian women. 
  • Women with less than a college degree; college graduates have the lowest prevalence. 
  • Women with an annual household income less than $25,000 compared with those with higher income levels; women with an income of $75,000 or more have the lowest prevalence.

Never smoking, or quitting if you have already started, is the best way to prevent COPD — nearly 80% of COPD deaths can be attributed to smoking. The American Lung Association offers many smoking cessation programs that can aid in preventing COPD. The U.S. government also maintains a website that provides tools and tips for quitting smoking.  

While COPD has no cure, people with COPD can manage its progress and symptoms. Additional strategies to prevent or treat COPD include:

  • Avoiding secondhand smoke at home and work.
  • Asking physicians about pulmonary rehabilitation or a personalized COPD management program.
  • Taking medications that could lessen the symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.
  • Receiving supplemental oxygen therapy.

Healthy People 2030 has multiple goals related to COPD, including reducing COPD-related deaths and hospitalizations.

Almagro, Pere, Ramon Boixeda, Jesús Diez-Manglano, María Gómez-Antúnez, Franciso López-García, and Jesús Recio. 2020. “Insights into Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease as Critical Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease.” International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2020 (15): 755–64. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S238214.

Aryal, Shambhu, Enrique Diaz-Guzman, and David M. Mannino. 2014. “Influence of Sex on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Risk and Treatment Outcomes.” International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2014 (9): 1145–54. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S54476.

Barnes, Peter J. 2010. “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Effects beyond the Lungs.” PLoS Medicine 7 (3): e1000220. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000220.

DeMeo, Dawn, Sreeram Ramagopalan, Abhishek Kavati, Ashok Vegesna, Meilan Han, Anthony Yadao, Teresa Wilcox, and Barry J Make. 2018. “Women Manifest More Severe COPD Symptoms across the Life Course.” International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 13 (October): 3021–29. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S160270.

Di Marco, Fabiano, Massimo Verga, Manuela Reggente, Francesca Maria Casanova, Pierachille Santus, Francesco Blasi, Luigi Allegra, and Stefano Centanni. 2006. “Anxiety and Depression in COPD Patients: The Roles of Gender and Disease Severity.” Respiratory Medicine 100 (10): 1767–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2006.01.026.

Fitzsimmons, Kathleen, Elise Pechter, and Emily Sparer-Fine. 2020. “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Employment Among Massachusetts Adults.” Preventing Chronic Disease 17 (November): 200116. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.200116.

Ford, Earl S., Louise B. Murphy, Olga Khavjou, Wayne H. Giles, James B. Holt, and Janet B. Croft. 2015. “Total and State-Specific Medical and Absenteeism Costs of COPD Among Adults Aged 18 Years in the United States for 2010 and Projections Through 2020.” Chest 147 (1): 31–45. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.14-0972.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2014. “The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General.” Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24455788/.

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