The New York State Senate

J5587

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim November 2012 as COPD Awareness month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term used to
describe airflow obstruction that is associated mainly with emphysema
and chronic bronchitis; and
WHEREAS, There is indication of COPD being underdiagnosed as an esti-
mated 24 million people have evidence of impaired lung function, and
COPD kills more than 120,000 Americans every year; on average, one
person dies from COPD every 4 minutes; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, the National Center for Health Statistics released a
report stating that in 2008 COPD became the third leading cause of death
in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Pulmonary experts predict that, by the year 2020, COPD will
become the third leading cause of death worldwide; and
WHEREAS, COPD currently accounts for 1.5 million emergency room
visits, 715,000 hospitalizations, and 8 million physician office and
hospital outpatient visits, all of which are a detriment to the U.S.
economy; COPD costs the nation an estimated $49.9 billion in direct and
indirect medical costs annually; and
WHEREAS, Smoking is the primary risk factor for COPD; approximately 85
to 90 percent of COPD deaths are caused by smoking; and
WHEREAS, COPD affects almost 650,000 citizens of the State of New
York; and
WHEREAS, Coordinated community efforts, such as the New York COPD
Coalition, a public-private partnership of individuals and organizations
that created the New York COPD Action Plan, can result in dramatic
improvements to public health and reduced healthcare costs; and
WHEREAS, Research has identified a hereditary protein deficiency
called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin; people with this deficiency tend to develop
COPD, even without exposure to smoking or environmental triggers; and
WHEREAS, There is currently no cure for COPD; spirometry testing and
medical treatments exist to address symptom relief and possibly slow the
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 with
education, awareness, and expanded delivery of detection and management
protocols; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 2012 as COPD
Awareness month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.