For patients with COPD, finding a place to live with low pollution, better air quality and lower humidity levels can greatly reduce their exacerbations and the overall burden of the disease.
That’s according to a new study, Lung Health By State & COPD in the U.S., from hospital and adjustable bed manufacturer Opera. The company has determined that the best places for overall lung health in the United States are largely in the western half of the country.
Using data from the American Lung Association, America’s Health Rankings and the Environmental Protection Agency, among other sources, the company said in a news release that six of the top 10 states ranked with the highest lung health scores are in the west.
The top 10 states are:
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- New Mexico
- Maryland
- Nebraska
- California
- South Dakota
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- New Jersey
Virginia was found to be the state with the highest rate of COPD in 2023. Opera Beds
On the other end of the spectrum, Indiana ranked the lowest, with a score of 4.04. Other states in the bottom five included Ohio, Alaska and Pennsylvania, with Michigan and Nevada tying for fifth place.
The study also looked at the COPD rates of each state and found that Utah had both the lowest COPD rate (3.7%) and the lowest adult smoking rate (6.7%) in 2023. Other states with low COPD rates included California, Hawaii, New Jersey and Washington state.
West Virginia clocked in with the highest COPD rate at 12.6%, while 21% of the adults in that state are active smokers. Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana rounded out the top five states with the highest COPD rates.
Mississippi, meanwhile, has seen the biggest decrease in COPD rates since 2018, with cases there dropping by 21.65%. New Jersey wasn’t far behind, with a decrease of 21.43%.
On the other hand, COPD cases are on the rise in South Dakota, with a whopping 39.13% increase since 2018. The next closest was Montana with a 21.67% increase.
