Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Women in North Carolina

North Carolina

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes several respiratory conditions that damage air sacs in the lungs, decreasing airflow and making it difficult to breathe. COPD is a leading cause of death in the United States. Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, needing to clear the throat frequently and 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. 

COPD medical expenses cost the United States an estimated $49 billion in 2020, and this expenditure is expected to grow to $60.5 billion by 2029. 

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of COPD is higher among: 

• Women ages 35-44 compared with women ages 18-34. 
• Multiracial and Black women compared with Hispanic women. 
• Women with less than a college degree compared with those with higher levels of education; college graduates have the lowest prevalence. 
• Women with an annual household income less than $25,000 compared with those with higher incomes; women with an income of more than $75,000 have the lowest prevalence. 
• Women who live in non-metropolitan areas compared with those in metropolitan areas.
• Women who have difficulty with self-care than women without a disability. 
• LGBQ+ women than straight women.

The best way to prevent COPD is by never smoking, or quitting if you have already started — nearly 80% of COPD deaths can be attributed to smoking. The American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking program offers courses and resources to help smokers quit. Smokefree.gov also has tools and tips for quitting, including a guided walkthrough on how to build a quit plan and a text messaging program for 24/7 support and advice. 

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

• Avoiding secondhand smoke exposure at home and work.
• Asking physicians about pulmonary rehabilitation or a personalized COPD management program.
• Taking medications or using an inhaler to relieve symptoms.
• Receiving supplemental oxygen therapy.

COPD is commonly misdiagnosed, and many individuals are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced. Early detection may improve disease management and prevent worse outcomes. Therefore, it is important for patients to discuss symptoms with their health care providers. Questionnaires can help doctors identify high-risk individuals, as routine screening is not currently recommended for COPD.

Healthy People 2030 has multiple goals related to respiratory disease, including:

• Reducing COPD-related deaths.
• Reducing COPD hospitalizations.
• Reducing emergency department visits for COPD.

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

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Ford, Earl S., Louise B. Murphy, Olga Khavjou, Wayne H. Giles, James B. Holt, and Janet B. Croft. “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, no. 1 (January 2015): 31–45. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.14-0972.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “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, 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK179276/.