COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

In this section:

For Vermont Families & Individuals Impacted by COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung condition where the lungs are damaged, remodeled, or lose functioning, in a way that they can't go back to normal, leading to long-term breathing problems.

Chronic: long-term
Obstructive: limited air flow
Pulmonary: lung
Disease: a harmful condition that can compromise health and quality of life.

There is no cure for COPD, so it is important to prevent developing COPD or slowing further damage to the lungs if you have COPD.

Illustratiion of a human torso showing the lungs inside the chest. Two smaller adjacent illustrations show bronchitis illustrated by puss oozing from a partially blocked bronchial tube and emphysema, represented by swollen discolored air sacs in the lung.

COPD & Your Lungs

COPD is associated with inflammation, mucus build-up, and tightening of the muscle bands around the airways (as often seen in chronic bronchitis) and deterioration of the air sacs (as often seen in emphysema). COPD may also be linked to certain genetic conditions, and injuries to the brain or spine. Asthma isn't considered COPD, but some people with asthma might also have COPD.

The damage caused by COPD reduces the ability to move air in and out of the lungs. Over time, as the disease worsens it becomes harder and harder to breathe. As lung function decreases, sleep is disrupted, concentration and alertness decline, activities are limited, and quality of life goes down. See Vermonters and Families Impacted by COPD for early warning signs and symptoms.

COPD is a Significant Issue in Vermont

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2023

According to Vermont and New Hampshire Hospital Discharge Data, Vermont residents visited the Emergency Department 2,358 times with a primary diagnosis of COPD in 2022. This is a slight increase from 2021.
In 2023, 305 Vermonters died from COPD, making this the fifth leading cause of death in the state (Vermont Vital Statistics Report, 2023).

Who is at Greatest Risk of COPD?

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2023

Adults who have a history of asthma are four times more likely to have COPD than those who do not, with nearly a quarter also having COPD. More adults have asthma in Vermont than the U.S. rate, which may make the risk of developing COPD higher among Vermonters compared to the whole country.
Vermonters who smoke cigarettes are three times more likely to have COPD than those who do not smoke. About a third of adults in Vermont also report being exposed to secondhand smoke in the past week, which can increase the risk of developing COPD (Vermont Adult Tobacco Survey, 2022).
Those with less education and lower household incomes are also more likely to be diagnosed with COPD in Vermont, as are those with disabilities and those who are on Medicaid (BRFSS, 2023).
Military veterans, National Guard members, firefighters, industrial and construction workers, quarry or marble workers, farmers, and certain artisans may be particularly vulnerable to harmful exposures that can increase the risk of COPD among industrial and construction workers, quarry or marble workers, farmers, and certain artisans may be particularly vulnerable to harmful exposures.
COPD is more common among older adults Vermont’s aging population may suggest an elevated concern for COPD in Vermont (United States Census Bureau, 2024).
Additional high-risk groups may include those living in rural areas, those with certain genetic conditions, and those with brain or spinal cord injuries.

Other Vermonters at Risk

Some occupations may put Vermonters at higher risks of developing COPD, including those with heavy exposure to dust at work, chemicals, and other indoor or outdoor air pollution. For instance, Vermont has military veterans, National Guard members, firefighters, industrial and construction workers, quarry or marble workers, farmers, and certain artisans who may be particularly vulnerable to harmful exposures.
COPD is more common among older adults. Vermont has the second largest share of population in the 65+ age group when compared to other U.S. states, suggesting an elevated concern for COPD in Vermont (United States Census Bureau, 2024).
Additional high-risk groups may include those living in rural areas, those with certain genetic conditions, and those with brain or spinal cord injuries.

Quality of Life with COPD

COPD can impact daily activities and overall health and wellness.

Nearly half of Vermont adults with COPD rate their health as fair or poor: a rate four times higher than adults without COPD.
Vermont adults with COPD are two times more likely to miss out on their usual activities for 10 days in a row due to their health.
Vermont adults with COPD are more likely to be diagnosed with additional chronic conditions. Those with COPD are nearly four times as likely to have cardiovascular disease (CVD) and nearly three times as likely to have diabetes, compared with those who do not have COPD.

Vermont adults with COPD are more likely to have a co-occurring chronic disease than those without COPD.

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2023

If you are in any of the above high risk groups, it is important to take steps now to prevent and slow the progression of COPD and preserve your quality of life. See Vermonters and Families Impacted by COPD on preventing and slowing COPD.

The Vermont COPD Program

The Vermont COPD Program is supported by a grant from the Center for Disease Control. The purpose of the grant is to reduce the prevalence of COPD in Vermont through:

increasing public health knowledge of COPD among healthcare providers and the public;
promoting earlier detection and diagnosis of COPD;
increasing COPD patient and caregiver support, and
reducing COPD-related hospital readmissions.

Together with multiple partners including the American Lung Association’s COPD Awareness Program, VDH will increase awareness, clinical and public health knowledge, COPD patient and caregiver support, and earlier detection and diagnosis to drive progress in COPD outcomes that importantly benefit those impacted by the disease, those who need diagnosis and COPD caregivers. These achievements will be demonstrated by surveillance, evaluation, data presentation and publication.