Chronic Bronchitis Epidemiology
Healthcare providers have diagnosed approximately 9.5 million people in the United States, or 4 percent of the population, with chronic bronchitis. The actual number of people with the condition may be as much as 50 percent higher, because many cases go undiagnosed as many patients underreport their symptoms.
Acute Bronchitis Epidemiology
Acute bronchitis affects about 44 out of every 1000 adults each year, with 82 percent of cases occurring in the fall and winter. Acute bronchitis is one of the top 5 reasons people seek medical care.
Epidemiology by Sex and Age
Bronchitis affects cisgender males more than cisgender females; acute bronchitis is more common in children under the age of 5 years, while chronic bronchitis is more common in people over the age of 50 years.
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