Life Expectancy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

What is the association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with life expectancy and does this vary by severity of airflow obstruction?In this cohort study including data from 45 886 participants enrolled in 8 US studies, years of life lost (YLL) were 0.7 for Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Disease (GOLD) stage 1, 2.6 for stage 2, 5.1 for stage 3, and 7.1 for stage 4; comparable decreases were noted for COPD in those who never smoked vs ever smoked. YLL for GOLD stages 2 to 4 were similar or greater than the YLL for hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cigarette smoking.Results of this study suggest that COPD is associated with lower life expectancy, including in adults who never smoked.

Corresponding Authors: Surya P. Bhatt, MD, MSPH, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, THT 422, 1720 2nd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294 (sbhatt@uabmc.edu); Elizabeth C. Oelsner, MD, DrPH, Division of General Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 W 168th St, PH9E-105, New York, NY 10032 (eco7@cumc.columbia.edu).

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