BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is comprised primarily of two related diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In both diseases, there is chronic ob-struction of the flow of air through the airways and out of the lungs, and the obstruc-tion generally is permanent and progressive over time.1

COPD is the third leading cause of death in America, claiming the lives of 124,477 Americans in 2007. In 2008, 13.1 million U.S. adults (aged 18 and over) were estimat-ed to have COPD. However, close to 24 million US adults have evidence of impaired lung function, indicating an under diagnosis of COPD. Females are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis as males. In 2008, 3.1 million males had a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis compared to 6.7 million females.

The damage to a person’s airways and lungs caused by COPD cannot be reversed; and the quality of life for a person suffering from COPD diminishes as the disease progresses, although there are things he or she can do to feel better and slow the damage. Smoking is responsible for up to 90 percent of COPD in the United States. Other risk factors include exposure to air pollution, second-hand smoke and occupa-tional dusts and chemicals, heredity, a history of childhood respiratory infections, and socioeconomic status.

In 2010, the cost to the nation for COPD was projected to be approximately $49.9 billion, including $29.5 billion in direct health care expenditures, $8.0 billion in indirect morbidity costs and $12.4 billion in indirect mortality costs.2

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)and SC Medicaid Recipients SFY 2010 Fact Sheet

1 www.medicinenet.com/chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease_copd/article.htm2 www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/copd/resources/facts-figures/COPD-Fact-Sheet.html

SC Medicaid Population Demographics COPD–2010

Ages Race Gender Geographic Residence

18 and Under 15,908 Black 17,217 Female 28,891 Rural 20,819

19-64 20,900 White 25,343 Male 18,430 Urban 26,085

65+ 10,513 Hispanic 1,247 Unclassified 417

Other 3,514

Expenditure and mapped prevalence data for Medicaid recipients in South Carolina is provided on the reverse side.

SC FISCAL YEAR 2010

A total of 47,321 Medicaid recipients had paid claims associated with a primary diag-nosis of COPD or 5.01 percent of the total Medicaid recipient population. Total medi-cal expenditures for this population were $475,722,388, accounting for 9.21 percent of the state Medicaid expenditures.

Developed by the Division of Policy and Research on Medicaid and Medicare at the University of South Carolina’s Institute for Families in Society under contract to the SC Department of Health and Human Services. This factsheet and important information about its use and data limitations can be found at ifs.sc.edu/PRMM/Factsheets. Suggested citation: Lòpez-De Fede, A., Mayfield-Smith, K., Stewart, J., Sudarshan, N., Rodgers, M., & Sudduth, D. (2012). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and SC Medicaid recipients: SFY 2010 factsheet. Columbia, SC: Institute for Families in Society, University of South Carolina.