The shortness of breath experienced by people with COPD can interrupt daily activity, sleep patterns and the ability to exercise.
People with COPD rate their health worse than do people without the condition. In 2007-08, 27% of those aged 55 years and over with COPD rated their health as poor, compared to 13% of those aged 55 years and over without it. At the same time, 2% of those with COPD rated their health as excellent compared to 9% of those without COPD.
Source table
Table 1: Self-assessed health among people with COPD and among people without COPD, 2007–08 (per cent)
| Self-assessed health |
With COPD |
Without COPD |
| Excellent |
2 |
9 |
| Very good |
12 |
23 |
| Good |
30 |
32 |
| Fair |
30 |
23 |
| Poor |
27 |
13 |
| Total |
100 |
100 |
Notes
- Based on the prevalence of self-reported emphysema or bronchitis.
- Age standardised to the Australian population as at June 2001.
- COPD occurs mostly in people aged 55 years and over. While it is occasionally reported in younger age groups, in those aged 55 years and over there is more certainty that the condition is COPD and not another respiratory condition. For this reason only people aged 55 years and over are included in this graph.
Source: AIHW Analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey, 2007–08.