According to a report in the the American College of Chest Physicians journal CHEST, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that COPD costs the United States $36 billion a year. Furthermore, that figure will rise to $49 billion by 2020.

The article found that:

  • In 2010, the total national medical costs attributable to COPD were estimated at $32.1 billion dollars annually.
  • Absenteeism costs were $3.9 billion for a total burden of $36 billion in COPD-attributable costs.
  • An estimated 16.4 million days of work were lost due to COPD each year.
  • Of the medical cost, 18% was paid for by private insurance, 51% by Medicare, and 25% by Medicaid.
  • The study also projects a rise in medical costs from $32.1 billion in 2010 to $49 billion by 2020.