HR0868 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0868 LRB098 20422 GRL 56191 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory non-reversible asthma, and some forms of bronchiectasis; and

WHEREAS, In people with COPD, the airways and air sacs in the lungs lose their elastic qualities and cannot bounce back to their original shape; they then become swollen and thicker and, in some cases, become partially blocked or obstructed, leading to breathing difficulties and, ultimately, the inability to breathe; and

WHEREAS, Smoking is the main risk factor for developing COPD; second hand smoke exposure, occupational dust, chemical exposure, air pollution, and genetics are also common causes of COPD; and

WHEREAS, Nationally, the COPD Foundation reports that COPD is responsible for direct and in-direct health care related costs projected at $49.9 billion in 2010; 70% of those costs are related to hospitalizations; and

WHEREAS, It is also estimated by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that one out of five individuals over the age of 40 in the hospital have COPD; and

WHEREAS, In Illinois, the prevalence of COPD is 6.1% of the total population; COPD affects individuals across all age groups, but at even higher rates for individuals aged 55-64 at 8.1% and individuals 65 and over at a shocking 13.3%; and

WHEREAS, The American Association for Respiratory Care reports that nationally just over half of all persons with COPD report that their condition limits their ability to work and 34% say that COPD keeps them from working; and

WHEREAS, There is no cure for COPD and its lung damage is irreversible; however, treatments can improve a patient's quality of life by reducing frequency and severity of exacerbations, prevent symptoms from growing worse, and improving health status; and

WHEREAS, Treatments for COPD include the cessation of smoking, removing air pollutants from home and work, and treating symptoms with medication and pulmonary rehabilitation; and

WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2012 "chronic lower respiratory diseases", which are included within the conditions under the umbrella term of COPD, are the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Many individuals who experience shortness of breath or other early symptoms of COPD mistake these symptoms as being a part of the "normal aging process"; these individuals wait to receive treatments until the conditions are severe and the lung damage is significantly more difficult to treat and manage; and

WHEREAS, Concerted public outreach efforts such as DRIVE4COPD, the nation's largest public awareness and screening campaign for COPD, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's COPD: Learn More Breathe Better Campaign, can dramatically improve public awareness of COPD; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder as a chronic health condition in Illinois which contributes to increasing health care costs and decreasing productivity of its citizens; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Public Health to include COPD as a chronic health condition in its efforts to address serious and chronic health conditions in Illinois by seeking out and applying for funding and grants available to provide public awareness or treatment for COPD in Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Public Health to include COPD as a chronic health condition in its current efforts to educate the public about the effects of smoking or other preventable and treatable chronic health conditions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we designate the month of November in 2014 as COPD Awareness Month in the State of Illinois.