HR0429 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0429 LRB099 12017 GRL 34587 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe airflow obstruction that is associated mainly with emphysema and chronic bronchitis; and

WHEREAS, COPD affects an estimated 24 million individuals in the United States and an estimated 580,000 individuals in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, the National Center for Health Statistics released a report stating that COPD had become the third leading cause of death in the United States; and

WHEREAS, COPD currently accounts for 1.5 million emergency room visits, 699,000 hospitalizations, and 10.3 million physician office and hospital outpatient visits, all of which are detrimental to the United States economy; COPD costs the nation an estimated $49.9 billion in direct and indirect medical costs annually; and

WHEREAS, COPD affects an estimated 580,000 citizens of the State of Illinois, with at least as many persons who are estimated to be undiagnosed; Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease, including COPD, is the third leading cause of death in the State; the Respiratory Health Association is participating in statewide efforts to increase early detection, improve care and treatment, and prevent and reduce the prevalence of the disease; and

WHEREAS, Research has identified a hereditary protein deficiency called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin; people with this deficiency tend to develop COPD, despite the lack of exposure to smoking and environmental triggers; and

WHEREAS, Women over the age of 40 are the fastest growing segment of the population to develop this irreversible disease, due in large part to the equalization of opportunity for men and women to smoke over the past several generations; and

WHEREAS, There is currently no cure for COPD; spirometry testing and medical treatments, such as pulmonary rehabilitation, exist to address symptom relief and possibly slow progression of the disease; and

WHEREAS, Until there is a cure, the best approaches to preventing COPD and its considerable health, societal, and mortality impacts lie in education, awareness, and expanded delivery of detection and management protocols; and

WHEREAS, The Respiratory Health Association and its partners from the Illinois State COPD Plan will work with the Illinois Department of Public Health and other relevant partners to seek opportunities to promote awareness and treatment for COPD; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the month of November as COPD Awareness Month in the State of Illinois and encourage others to promote education, awareness, and screening of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.