Trends in COPD-related mortality among adults with lung cancer in the United States, 1999-2025: A CDC WONDER analysis.

Abstract

e20776 Background: Both COPD and lung cancer are major concerns worldwide. Lung cancer is an important comorbidity of COPD that contributes to increased mortality rates. Conversely, COPD is associated with reduced overall survival in patients with lung cancer and COPD. The presence of COPD is frequently considered a significant risk factor for lung cancer and may contribute to its development through mutually reinforcing pathophysiological mechanisms. Methods: We analyzed death certificate data from the CDC WONDER database to assess COPD-related mortality among adults with co-morbid lung cancer from 1999 to 2025. AAMRs per 100,000 individuals and APCs and corresponding 95% CIs were determined. The data was stratified by year, sex, race, state, and census region. Results: The AAMR Values were double the rate in male compared to the female (AAMR men: 10.9 vs women: 5.4). This trend has been maintained till 2025. However, the trend in females increased to its peak of AAMR 6.0 in 2010 and then was seen to be slowly descending in its value. This is a contrast to males where its seen as a significant decrease throughout the years reaching it’s lowest in 2025 of AAMR 6.5. White (7.59) adults had the highest overall AAMR followed by American Indian/Alaska Native (5.7), Black or African American (5.5), Hispanic or Latino (2.22), Asian or Pacific Islander (1.9). AAMR varied substantially by region (overall AAMR: Northeast: 5.84; Midwest 8.35; South: 7.74; West: 6.01). Based on the 2006 NCHS urbanization classification, there is difference in AAMRs of metropolitan and non-metropolitan cities. The cities classified under Micropolitan (9.5) and Noncore (9.8) had a spike in AAMR compared to metropolitan cities (Large Central Metro (5.5), Large Fringe Metro (6.3), Medium Metro (7.6), Small Metro (8.8)). Conclusions: Based on this analysis, one can conclude that the mortality rate amongst adults with lung cancer, in relation to COPD, continues to have a critical impact upon public health in the United States. Not only has a substantial disparity been found in this mortality rate, but also disparities based upon several different levels of groups in society have been identified.