FL H9075

Recognizes February 25, 2012, as "COPD Awareness Day" in the State of Florida

Identifies chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the third leading cause of death in the United States, affecting an estimated 1.8 million Florida residents and 24 million individuals nationwide

Notes that smoking accounts for as many as 90 percent of COPD-related deaths, with other risk factors including environmental exposure, air pollution, second-hand smoke, childhood respiratory infections, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Cites Florida COPD healthcare costs of $1.3 billion in 2007 with more than 63,000 hospitalizations, and national annual costs of nearly $50 billion

Emphasizes that early COPD screening and detection are critical since most people are not diagnosed until they have lost half of their lung function, though proper disease management can improve quality of life