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Chronic Respiratory Diseases

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Chronic respiratory diseases include asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, and other chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRD), all of which cause difficulty breathing.

Quick Links

Asthma Prevalence report linkAsthma Emergency Department Visits report link

Why It's Important

Asthma is one of the most common long-term diseases in children, but adults can have asthma, as well. Asthma causes symptoms such as wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing at night or early in the morning.1

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death in the United States and New Jersey. COPD prevents airflow to the lungs, causing breathing problems.2

1. About Asthma. CDC. 1/22/24.
2. About COPD. CDC. 5/15/24.

What's Known

Asthma can make managing respiratory infections and diseases more complicated. Respiratory infections like influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), can be more serious for individuals with asthma because they can lead to pneumonia and asthma attacks.3

COPD is a group of lung diseases that get worse over time, and its most common types are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. There is no cure for COPD, but it can be treated.4

3. Respiratory Infections and Asthma. CDC. 1/22/24.
4. About COPD. CDC. 5/15/24.

Who's at Risk

Asthma: Environmental, occupational, and hereditary factors have been linked to the development of asthma. Asthma is also one of many racial/ethnic health disparities, with Black children being twice as likely to have asthma compared to White children.5

COPD: Those at higher risk for COPD include current or former smokers, persons with a history of asthma, women, and adults aged 65 and older.6

5. Teen Newsletter: Asthma. CDC. Dec 2022.
6. About COPD. CDC. 5/15/24.

How to Reduce Risk

Asthma: An asthma attack can happen when you are exposed to "asthma triggers," such as secondhand smoke, dust mites, air pollution, cockroaches and other pests, pet dander, and mold.7 Everyone with asthma needs their own Asthma Action Plan to prevent and control asthma attacks.8 To reduce the risk of an asthma attack, follow your Asthma Action Plan, take your asthma medication exactly as prescribed, avoid your asthma triggers, and know how to use your inhaler.9

COPD: To lower your risk of developing COPD, stop smoking, avoid secondhand smoke, and limit time in places with bad air quality.10

7. Controlling Asthma. CDC. 1/22/24.
8. Living with Asthma. CDC. 1/25/24.
9. What to Do When an Emergency Occurs. CDC. 1/25/24.
10. About COPD. CDC. 5/15/24.

How It's Tracked

  • Prevalence: The New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS) tracks the prevalence of asthma and COPD among adults annually. From 2013-2024, the Asthma Call-Back Survey of BRFSS respondents who reported an asthma diagnosis tracked the percentage of adults and children with asthma who:
    • Missed work or limited their activities due to asthma.
    • Had an asthma management plan from a health professional.
    • Were advised by a health professional to change things in their home, school, or work to improve their asthma.
  • Inpatient Hospitalization and Emergency Department Visits: The NJ Hospital Discharge Data Collection System receives diagnosis information about all inpatient hospitalization and emergency department visits from NJ hospitals.
  • Mortality: Death certificates are a fundamental source of demographic, geographic, and cause-of-death information.

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