at what age does copd start
COPD can be diagnosed in adults as early as their 20's and 30's, but COPD diagnosis in people in their 40's is on the rise, says Dr. Neil Schachter, medical director of respiratory care at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. More than 12 million people in the United States have COPD. 2  Another 12 million have COPD but go undiagnosed. 3  COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the only one in the top ten on the rise. 4  It is estimated that 80-90% of COPD cases are due to smoking.