Chronic Respiratory Conditions in the United States: Trends and Future Projections
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By
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Debbie Bunch
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October 20, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Chronic Respiratory Conditions in the United States: Trends and Future Projections
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Condition | Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumoconiosis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and pulmonary sarcoidosis |
| Key Mechanisms | The study assessed prevalence and mortality trends, modifiable risk-factor contributions to disability-adjusted life-years, and associations with cigarette excise taxes and respiratory infection vaccination coverage. |
| Target Population | People in the United States with the respiratory conditions assessed, using national and state-level estimates. |
| Care Setting | Population-level epidemiology and projections to 2050; the findings describe U.S. state-level patterns and do not specify a clinical care setting. |
Key Highlights
- The estimated number of people living with chronic respiratory disease increased from 33.28 million in 1990 to 54.5 million in 2023.
- From 1990 to 2023, the age-standardized prevalence rate increased by 10.24%, and the age-standardized mortality rate rose from 19 to 34.56 per 100,000 population.
- Age-standardized mortality declined for asthma and pneumoconiosis, but increased for COPD and ILD with pulmonary sarcoidosis.
- Modifiable risk factors accounted for 44.54% of chronic respiratory disease DALYs; high BMI was the leading reported contributor for asthma, smoking for COPD, and occupational asthmagen exposure for pneumoconiosis.
- By 2050, projections indicate rising age-standardized prevalence rates for asthma and ILD with pulmonary sarcoidosis, and declining rates for COPD and pneumoconiosis.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Management
Monitoring & Follow-up
Risks
Patient & Prescribing Data
U.S. population estimates for asthma, COPD, pneumoconiosis, ILD, and pulmonary sarcoidosis; the article provides no individual patient or prescribing data.
No medication or treatment regimens are reported. The article describes population-level risk-factor contributions, policy associations, and projections.
Clinical Best Practices
Related Resources & Content
Based on findings from:
Chronic Respiratory Disease in the U.S.
Debbie Bunch. American Association For Respiratory Care, 2026.
https://rccentral.aarc.org/chronic-respiratory-disease-in-the-u-s/
This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.
