In 2019, the percentage of adults aged ≥18 years with diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was higher among those living in nonmetropolitan areas (8.0%) than among those living in metropolitan areas (4.0%). Percentages were higher in nonmetropolitan areas for adults aged 45–64 years (10.0% versus 4.8%) and aged ≥65 years (14.5% versus 9.5%), but the difference by urbanization level was not statistically significant for adults aged 18–44 years (1.9% versus 1.2%). The prevalence of diagnosed COPD increased with age in both nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm
Footnotes
With 95% confidence intervals indicated with error bars.
Based on a positive response to the survey question, “Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis?”
Urbanization level is based on the Office of Management and Budget’s February 2013 delineation of metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), in which each MSA must have at least one urbanized area of ≥50,000 inhabitants. Areas with <50,000 inhabitants are grouped into the nonmetropolitan category.
Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population.