Differences between African Americans and Whites in COPD Morbidity and Management

Chronic lower respiratory diseases, which encompass chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the third leading cause of death in some states, including North Carolina (NC). There is a lack of population-based investigations of COPD, especially those that address racial disparities for this chronic health condition. This study examines the prevalence and selected management behaviors among African-American (AA) adults with COPD, using data from the 2007 North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. While AAs had a lower prevalence than whites (4.5% vs. 6.7%), they were less likely to have seen a physician for their COPD symptoms (40.4%, 45.4%) and to have taken daily COPD medication (48.0%, 50.5%). Similarities were observed for having a diagnostic breathing test (76.2%, 77.5%), shortness of breath affecting quality of life (74.0%, 71.3%), and visited an emergency room because of COPD (16.5%, 15.4%). Female AAs had a prevalence rate 2.2 times higher than their male counterparts; white females' rate was only 1.1 times higher than white males' rate. Age, education and income differences between the two racial groups were also notable for COPD prevalence and other management variables. The proportion of AAs (42.8%) who ever smoked was lower than that for whites (50.4%), as was the percentage with a history of any cardiovascular diseases (7.8%, 9.7%) and may be possible explanations for their lower prevalence rate. The current findings indicate the need to further investigate the relationships between these and other COPD-related factors, including co-morbidities.