Black and American Indian/Alaska Native populations experienced significantly higher asthma-related mortality rates, with asthma and COPD accounting for 5-6% of all US deaths from 2018 to 2023.
Observational
Yes
Persistent racial and regional disparities exist in asthma and COPD mortality in the US, with disproportionately higher asthma mortality rates in Black and American Indian/Alaska Native populations.
Abstract Background Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain major causes of respiratory morbidity and mortality in the United States. These chronic respiratory diseases frequently lead to acute exacerbations requiring emergency care and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Despite improvements in disease recognition and treatment, significant disparities in outcomes persist across racial and geographic groups. Understanding these patterns using national data can inform critical care resource planning and equitable public health interventions. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the CDC Multiple Cause of Death (MCOD) database for the years 2018 through 2023. Deaths in which asthma (ICD-10 J45-J46) or COPD (J40-J44) was listed as an underlying or contributing cause were included. Data were stratified by year, race, and U.S. Census region. Mortality counts, crude proportions, and temporal trends were examined. Race-specific and regional differences were compared to assess disparities in respiratory-related mortality over time. Results From 2018 to 2023, asthma- and COPD-related deaths accounted for approximately 5-6% of all deaths nationwide. The South and Midwest regions had the highest overall mortality burden, with White individuals representing the largest absolute number of deaths—exceeding 120,000 in 2020. However, when population size was considered, Black and American Indian/Alaska Native populations experienced significantly higher asthma-related mortality rates, particularly in Southern states. Although COPD mortality demonstrated a modest decline after 2020, the overall pattern of racial and geographic disparities remained unchanged throughout the study period. Regional differences mirrored known gradients in access to care, socioeconomic status, and environmental exposure. Conclusions Asthma and COPD continue to contribute substantially to respiratory mortality in the United States. Despite a slight decline in COPD deaths in recent years, persistent racial and regional disparities highlight ongoing inequities in health outcomes and access to preventive and acute respiratory care. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating population health surveillance with clinical and critical care data to identify high-risk groups and guide targeted interventions. Strengthening public health infrastructure, improving environmental air quality, and expanding equitable access to diagnostic and therapeutic resources are essential to reducing the national burden of chronic respiratory disease. Funding and Data Source No external funding. Data obtained from the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death Database (2018-2023), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This abstract is funded by: None
Tayyab et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Asthma and COPD. Black and American Indian/Alaska Native populations experienced significantly higher asthma-related mortality rates, with asthma and COPD accounting for 5-6% of all US deaths from 2018 to 2023.