nurse checking woman's oxygen mask in hospital bedChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. It includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and in some cases asthma. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, but other risk factors or exposures that make COPD worse include air pollution and workplace lung irritants. By tracking emergency department visits and hospitalizations for COPD we can better understand how rates of the disease change over time and differ based on geography, age, and gender.

What data are available?

Maine tracks the following measures associated with COPD:

  • Emergency Department (ED) Visits
  • Hospitalizations