Lung obstruction is characterized by a decrease in airflow and shortness of breath. Common types of obstructive lung diseases include asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. During 2007-2010, approximately 15% of adults aged 40-79 had lung obstruction, and with approximately one-third of those having moderate or worse obstruction (1). This report uses 2011-2012 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to update these percentages,overall and by severity level. For this report, lung obstruction is defined based on lung function tests or self-reported oxygen use with diagnosed emphysema or current chronic bronchitis.
Source: cdc.gov