Kuwedzera munyika dzichiri kusimukira pakati pa1970 na2000s kunofungidzirwa kuti kwakabatana nekuwedzera kwehuwandu hwekusvuta munzvimbo ino, huwandu hwevanhu huri kuwedzera uye huwandu hwevanhu vari kuchembera nekuda kwekufa kushoma kubva kune zvimwe zvikonzero zvakaita sezvirwere zvinotapukira. Mune dzimwe nyika dzakabudirira vakaona huwandu hwakawedzera, vamwe vakaramba vakagadzikana uye vamwe vakaona kuderera kweCOPD. Nhamba dzenyika dzinotarisirwa kuramba dzichiwedzera sezvo zvinhu zvine njodzi zvichiramba zvakajairika uye huwandu hwevanhu huri kuramba huchikura. Pakati pa1990 na2010 huwandu hwevakafa kubva kuCOPD hwakadzikira zvishoma kubva pamamirioni 3.1 kusvika pamamirioni 2.9 uye rufu rwechina muna 2012. Muna 2011 yakava yechitatu inotungamira chikonzero chekufa pakati pevakadzi munyika dzakasimukira, sezvo pakave nekuwedzera kwekusvuta fodya munharaunda iyi, huwandu hwevanhu vanorwara neCOPD hunofungidzirwa kunge hwakadzikira kubva pa153 kusvika pa153 muzana. MuUnited States, huwandu hwevanhu vakwegura vanobatwa neCOPD hunogona kunge hwakadzikira kubva pa
kufa kwakaderera muvarume asi kwakawedzera muvakadzi