COPD Health Education

1. COPD Health Education COPD Overview Patient Portrayals

2. What is COPD? • COPD: Short for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease1a • General term used to describe lung diseases including: • Emphysema1a • Chronic bronchitis1a • Refractory (irreversible) asthma1a • There is no cure for COPD, but there are treatments available to manage its symptoms1b

3. COPD Facts and Figures • An estimated 210 million people have COPD worldwide1a • In the U.S. alone: • More than 12 million adults have COPD2a • Another 12 million likely have it, but don’t know it2a • 4th leading cause of death1b and 2nd leading cause of disability3 • Kills one person every four minutes2a • Kills twice as many African American men than African American women4 • Cost the healthcare system more than $49 billion5 • African Americans have more emergency room visits and similar disease severity when compared to Whites who have smoked cigarettes over a longer period of time and are heavier smokers6

4. Who is At Risk for COPD? • Smokers (cigarettes, pipes, cigars) and people exposed to secondhand smoke1a, 1b • People exposed to pollutants that irritate and damage lungs.1c Pollutants include: chemical fumes, smoke from a wood- or coal-burning stove, dust,1d asbestos, mildew, and mold1e • Genetic factors (Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency)1d • People at least 40 years old2a • 7 out of 10 people with COPD are younger than 653 • Most are at least 40 years old when symptoms start2a • Women • More than twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis4

5. What are the Signs & Symptoms of COPD? • Symptoms may include: • Shortness of breath1a • Constant coughing (with or without mucus or phlegm)1a • Wheezing1a • Tightness in the chest2a, 3a • Constant clearing of the throat2a • Not being able to take a deep breath3a • Symptoms are often wrongly attributed to: • Old age2a • Being out of shape • Asthma3b • Some mistakenly think symptoms will decrease or stop altogether once they quit smoking • COPD symptoms are chronic (occur all the time/frequently)1b Patient Portrayal

6. How is COPD Diagnosed? • COPD is often diagnosed using a lung test known as spirometry1a • Spirometry measures the health and how well your lungs are working1a • Relatively simple and easy test to take1b • Diagnoses COPD before symptoms even start showing2 • Shows severity, or stage, of COPD1c

7. What are the Stages of COPD? • Stage I – Mild1 • Airways have narrowed slightly1 • You may have a cough that won’t go away, with or without mucus or phlegm1 • Stage II – Moderate1 • Airways have become narrower1 • May be easily winded, especially during brisk activity (e.g., exercising, climbing stairs)1 • Stage III – Severe1 • Airflow in and out of lungs is limited1 • May run out of breath doing the simplest activities1 • Quality of life may be affected1 • Stage IV – Very Severe1 • Airflow is severely limited (obstructed)1 • At risk for other serious problems (e.g., lung or heart failure)1 • Quality of life may be diminished1

8. COPD – Why is it Important to Our Community? • About 28 African Americans per every 100,000 died from COPD in 20061 • 1,823 Maryland residents died from COPD in 2005, ranking the state the 27th highest in COPD deaths2 • In 2001, more Black women (ages 45-64) had chronic bronchitis than Black men, White women or White men in the same age group3 • Nearly 1 in 5 African American adults smoke4

9. Smoking Rates in Baltimore City & Maryland Percentage of adults who currently smoke cigarettes by sex and race (2007)