COPD – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A widespread chronic condition

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States1, affecting almost 16 million Americans2. This chronic condition is characterized by breathing problems, including shortness of breath and coughing.

Tobacco smoke is one of the largest contributors to the development of COPD, but genetics, exposure to air pollution and other factors play a role.

2015 global deaths attributable to COPD
million
Senior female with COPD

COPD is under-diagnosed

More than 50% of adults with COPD didn’t know that they had it3. Risk factors for COPD include:

  • Tobacco smoke exposure
  • Smokers with asthma
  • Occupational exposure to dust and chemicals, or fumes from burning fuel
  • Age
  • Genetics

COPD and healthcare costs

In the Medicare-aged population, 12% suffer from COPD4, and this chronic condition costs the US healthcare system $49 billion annually, of which 51% is paid by Medicare5.

Historical COPD Cost of Care

A bar chart showing the increasing cost to treat COPD in the US over time

Source: Ford ES, Murphy LB, Khavjou O, et al. Total and state-specific medical and absenteeism costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults aged ≥18 years in the United States for 2010 and projections through 2020. Chest, July 24, 2014 [Epub ahead of print].

COPD Cost by disease stage

A bar chart showing the average costs to manage COPD by COPD stage

Source: Guarascio AJ, Ray SM, Finch CK, Self TH. The clinical and economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the USA. Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2013;5:235‐245. Published 2013 Jun 17. doi:10.2147/CEOR.S34321

Biomedix Xchange and COPD

Biomedix Xchange LogoThe Biomedix Xchange population health management platform is designed to help healthcare professionals focused on value-based care to identify and track chronic conditions such as COPD.

We have carefully chosen best-in-class diagnostic devices to be hosted  on our technology stack and feature NDD Medical’s EasyOne Air and Easy on-PC spirometry solutions with seamless integration, enabling the diagnosis and care planning for multiple chronic conditions in a single patient record.

1https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm

2 https://www.cdc.gov/copd/index.html

3 Mannino DM, Gagnon RC, Petty TL, Lydick E. Obstructive lung disease and low lung function in adults in the United States: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-1994. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:1683–1689.

4 https://www2.ccwdata.org/documents/10280/19096644/ccw-website-table-b2b.pdf

5 https://cdc.gov/copd/infographics/copd-costs.html