Pennsylvania COPD and Asthma Death Statistics
Chronic lower respiratory disease, which includes asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), is a leading cause of death in the United States and a public health concern in Pennsylvania. These diseases obstruct air flow to the lungs and affect millions of Americans. There is no cure, though they can be treated. The mortality data shown here is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CLRD vs. COPD
The term COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is sometimes used interchangeably with CLRD (chronic lower respiratory disease). In fact, CLRD is a slightly broader category. It includes asthma as well as COPD.
COPD itself comprises two main diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. While these diseases are separate and distinguished, Pennsylvania residents with COPD may suffer from more than one of them at once. For instance, the majority of patients have both chronic bronchitis and emphysema to differing degrees. This is because chronic bronchitis usually progresses into emphysema. According to the CDC, in 2017, 8.6 million Americans were diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and 3.4 million with emphysema.
How does the death rate vary by sex in Pennsylvania?
How does COPD and asthma mortality vary by race in Pennsylvania?
How do COPD and asthma trends vary by age in Pennsylvania?
More Information
• "National Action Plan Factsheet." National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
• "Race and Gender Disparities are Evident in COPD Underdiagnosed Across all Severities of Measured Airflow Obstruction." COPD Foundation.
• "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Includes: Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• "Trends in mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults in the United States." NIH.
About the Data
Mortality data in this story was queried from the CDC Wonder API, based on the following parameters:
• Data reported as Underlying Cause of Death, ICD-10 codes: J40-J47.