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13.5 million Americans (NHLBI) ... see also overview of COPD.
approx 1 in 20 or 4.96% or 13.5 million people in USA [Source statistic for calcuation: "13.5 million Americans (NHLBI)" -- see also general information about data sources]
For details see prevalence of types of COPD analysis; summary of available prevalence data:
15 million undiagnosed or in early stages ... see also misdiagnosis of COPD.
approx 1 in 18 or 5.51% or 15 million people in USA [about data] ... Note: this rate calculation uses the following statistic: 15 million undiagnosed or in early stages
More than 13.5 million Americans are thought to have COPD. (Source: excerpt from What is COPD: NHLBI)
The following statistics relate to the prevalence of COPD:
The following statistics relate to deaths and COPD:
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of COPD.
Predisposing factors include cigarette smoking, recurrent or chronic respiratory infections, air pollution, occupational exposure to chemicals, and allergies. Smoking is by far the most important of these factors — it impairs ciliary action and macrophage function, inflames airways, increases mucus production, destroys alveolar septae, and causes peribronchiolar fibrosis. Early inflammatory changes may reverse if the patient stops smoking before lung destruction is extensive. Familial and hereditary factors (such as deficiency of alpha1-antitrypsin) may also predispose a person to COPD.
The most common chronic lung disease, COPD (also known as chronic obstructive lung disease) affects an estimated 17 million Americans, and its incidence is rising. It affects more males than females, probably because until recently men were more likely to smoke heavily. COPD occurs mostly in people older than age 40.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
The term 'prevalence' of COPD usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing COPD at any given time. The term 'incidence' of COPD refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of COPD diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.
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