What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic, irreversible obstruction of air flow from the lungs that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and a range of other lung disorders. The two main types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are chronic obstructive bronchitis and emphysema.

How do members experience chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease*

*Data from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Albuterol Inhaler)
Perceived effectiveness
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (7)
Treatment

(Prednisone Intensol)
Perceived effectiveness
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6)
Treatment

(transtracheal oxygen)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2)
Treatment

(Pulmicort)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1)
Treatment

(Ipratropium Inhalant)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1)

*Data from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 2
20s 23
30s 109
40s 336
50s 1,342
60s 3,144
70+ 3,931

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 2,297
Female 6,592

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What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic, irreversible obstruction of air flow from the lungs that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and a range of other lung disorders. The two main types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are chronic obstructive bronchitis and emphysema.



Common symptoms reported by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Albuterol Inhaler)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
155
Treatment name(s)

(Prednisone Intensol)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
2,835
Treatment name(s)

(transtracheal oxygen)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
2,540
Treatment name(s)

(Pulmicort)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
883
Treatment name(s)

(Ipratropium Inhalant)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
20

Data from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Albuterol Inhaler)
Perceived effectiveness
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Treatment name(s)

(Prednisone Intensol)
Perceived effectiveness
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Treatment name(s)

(transtracheal oxygen)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Treatment name(s)

(Pulmicort)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Treatment name(s)

(Ipratropium Inhalant)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 7 new patients joined this month
  • 6,190 say COPD is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 2
20s 23
30s 109
40s 336
50s 1,342
60s 3,144
70+ 3,931
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 82
20-29 years 161
30-39 years 408
40-49 years 729
50-59 years 574
60-69 years 240
70+ years 40

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 2,297
Female 6,592

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 2,971
Not Diagnosed 69

These charts show data from COPD patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: