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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Deaths
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Up to 90% of COPD cases are caused by smoking, and smokers are 10 times more likely to die from the disease. Frequent lung infections and exposure to certain industrial chemicals can ... cause COPD, and some cases are related to genetic abnormalities. Approximately 14 million Americans have COPD, which causes about 120,000 deaths per year. Although the changes in lung tissue differ between the two diseases, the causes and treatments are similar.
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COPD is a chronic respiratory disorder characterised by airflow limitation, accompanied by shortness of breath, cough, wheezing and increased sputum production. Patients are unable to perform their usual daily activities. COPD is mainly associated with smoking, with up to 20% of all smokers developing the disease. COPD progresses with age, leading to disability and early death.
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Heart disease — Coronary artery disease (CAD) and COPD share tobacco abuse as a risk factor. Thus, it is not surprising that these two disorders commonly coexist. Heart disease is the most common cause of death in patients with COPD, and even modest abnormality in lung function increases this risk.
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Although COPD has traditionally been considered a man's disease, an increase in women who smoke has caused COPD to skyrocket in women. Today, there is little difference in the percentage of men and women who suffer from the disease. However, the death rate from COPD appears to be higher in women than in men.
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COPD is the fourth leading cause of death due to disease exceeded only by cancer, heart disease, and stroke. COPD is the only cause of death that has increased in frequency over the past 30 years and is projected to become the third leading cause of death by the year 2020.
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