Source: WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, 2015-2021
CLRD includes four chronic lung diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.
The percent of adults diagnosed with COPD in WNC declined from 13.9% in 2018 to 8.5% in 2021.
(WNCHN – WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, 2018-2021)
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease (CLRD) mortality rates have steadily risen from 51.3 in 2002-2006 to 53.5 in 2015-2019 per 100,000 population.
(N.C. State Center for Health Statistics, 2020)
Approximately 8.5% of adults in WNC have been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The following adult populations were significantly more likely to have ever been diagnosed with COPD in 2021:
Differences in health outcomes across social groups, economic status, and racial/ethnic identity are closely linked with disparities in social determinants of health, which disproportionately burden individuals and communities who experience systemic disadvantage and/or discrimination. See our data story on the social determinants of health to learn more about how the conditions in which people are born, live, work, play, learn, worship, and age can influence their ability to achieve good health for themselves and their families.
Source: NC SCHS 2012-2016 | Geographic Unit: Census Tract | Map Produced by: NC SCHS
| wdt_ID | County | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buncombe | 2,019 | 4 |
| 2 | Cherokee | 2,019 | 4 |
| 3 | Clay | 2,019 | 5 |
| 4 | Graham | 2,019 | 3 |
| 5 | Haywood | 2,019 | 4 |
| 6 | Henderson | 2,019 | 5 |
| 7 | Jackson | 2,019 | 4 |
| 8 | Macon | 2,019 | 3 |
| 9 | Madison | 2,019 | 4 |
| 10 | McDowell | 2,019 | 3 |
| 11 | Mitchell | 2,019 | 3 |
| 12 | Polk | 2,019 | 6 |
| 13 | Rutherford | 2,019 | 3 |
| 14 | Swain | 2,019 | 3 |
| 15 | Transylvania | 2,019 | 4 |
| 16 | Yancey | 2,019 | 3 |
| County | Year | Rank |
Source: WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, 2012-2021
Source: WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, 2012-2021
In 2015, 13.4% of North Carolinians answered “yes” when asked if they had ever been told by a healthcare professional that they had asthma.
The prevalence of COPD is higher in rural areas nationally, with a rate of 8.2% compared to metro incidence of 4.7%.
In 2010, national medical costs attributable to COPD were estimated at $32.1 billion annually.
Source: WNCHN – Online Key Informant Survey, 2018
The information in this section should be interpreted and used with care. It should be used only to help local health departments and agencies begin to understand community perceptions about local health issues. Communities are strongly encouraged to collect their own, local-level data to inform local planning and evaluation activities.
“Primary care physicians and other professionals are educating patients on this condition and prescribing/treating per evidence-based recommendations.”
“Extremely limited resources, limited education, and very poor access to care.”
The western North Carolina region includes 17 communities: 16 counties and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI)
The list below represents a sample of what is happening in the region around this key health issue. Visit www.nc211.org for more resources.
The regional dataset (WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey and Online Key Informant Survey) is available thanks to contributions from hospitals in the 16-county region of western North Carolina. Thank you!
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