American Lung Association Brief: Mississippi Has Among Highest Rates of COPD in the Country

• 204,875 of adults have been diagnosed with COPD;
• The COPD prevalence rate is 9.1 percent;
• 2,086 people die each year from COPD;
• Annual cost of COPD treatment is $280 million; and
• 204,590 days of work are lost each year due to COPD.

“Unfortunately, here in Mississippi, we face a higher burden of COPD, but together we can work to help prevent COPD and support our community members living with the disease to live longer and more active lives,” said Ashley Lyerly, senior director of advocacy for the Lung Association in Mississippi. “The new COPD State Briefs also examine key indicators for COPD in Mississippi, such as air quality, tobacco use, education, income level and vaccination rate, which can help us determine where to focus our prevention efforts and help those most impacted by the disease.”

The Lung Association recommends the following actions to reduce the burden of COPD in Mississippi:  

• Use a validated COPD screening tool for people who may be at risk of COPD or reporting symptoms;
• Confirm a COPD diagnosis using spirometry, especially in primary care;
• Use evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation services;
• Promote recommended vaccinations; and
• Recommend pulmonary rehabilitation, COPD education and a COPD Action Plan.

Mississippi is one of 11 states with the highest COPD rates and highest burden in the country. The other states are Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Maine, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia. COPD prevalence rates range from 3.7 percent in Hawaii to 13.6 percent in West Virginia. 

The goal of the COPD State Briefs is to raise awareness for COPD and empower public health and healthcare professionals to take actionable steps to prevent the onset of illness, reduce health inequities, set goals for earlier diagnosis and ensure clinical guidelines are used to manage and treat COPD.

The COPD State Briefs were created with support by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Learn more and view the COPD State Briefs at Lung.org/COPD-briefs.