what age can copd start
COPD & Age. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) makes up a group of lung disorders that cause blocked airways. The most common forms are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), COPD is the third most common cause of death in the United States.Unlike other types of lung disease, COPD is most prevalent in older adults. Itâs a progressive illness that takes several years to develop.he Mayo Clinic states that most people are at least 35 to 40 years old when COPD first shows signs. The NHLBI reports that the disease develops most often in people who are 40 or older. While rare, itâs not entirely impossible to develop COPD as a young adult.