Health Care Utilization in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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Abstract
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive asthma, is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, and mortality rates for COPD are expected to increase during the next decade, particularly among women.1,2 The prevalence of COPD in the general population is difficult to determine, but estimates derived from the National Health Interview Survey suggest that chronic bronchitis and emphysema affect 1 in 8 men and 1 in 10 women older than 65 years.3 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major cause of chronic disability and a leading reason for visits to office-based physicians.4