Approximately 80 percent of the patients with mild emphysema lived more than four years after the diagnosis. 60 to 70 percent of patients with moderate emphysema were alive after four years. 50 percent of patients with severe emphysema were alive after four years.
The 5-year life expectancy for people with COPD ranges from 40% to 70%, depending on disease severity. This means that 5 years after diagnosis 40 to 70 out of 100 people will be alive. For severe COPD, the 2-year survival rate is just 50%.
Once emphysema advances to the severe stage, individuals may lose an average of 9 years of life expectancy. Various treatment options are available, with doctors reserving surgery for the most severe cases. Getting treatment early and quitting smoking can make a difference in a person's outlook.
End-stage emphysema, or stage 4 emphysema, can mean living with a decade or more of breathing problems, tiredness, heart problems or other health concerns that impact your ability to live your life to your fullest.
Life expectancy
A person who receives a diagnosis of stage 4 emphysema can live for a decade or more following the diagnosis. The outlook is typically better for those who quit smoking and manage their symptoms well with medication.
Over time, the body becomes less able to take in enough oxygen. End stage COPD is the most severe stage. It can lead to death.
In the final days, the person with COPD may withdraw, not talking, eating, drinking or moving much. There may be changes in the breathing patterns, such as long pauses between breaths. The skin may become pale and cool.
Emphysema usually progresses slowly and the majority of patients do not notice the changes in their breathing. Some patients do experience a faster onset of symptoms, though that is less common.
Emphysema gets worse over time. You cannot undo the damage to your lungs. Over time, you may find that: You get short of breath even when you do things like get dressed or fix a meal.
"It's not a death sentence by any means. Many people will live into their 70s, 80s, or 90s with COPD.” But that's more likely, he says, if your case is mild and you don't have other health problems like heart disease or diabetes.
Doctors describe this as stage 3 (severe) and stage 4 (very severe) emphysema. In these stages of the disease, the air sacs (called alveoli) in your lungs have serious, permanent damage. Instead of allowing you to exhale fully, the damaged air sacs cause air to get trapped inside the lungs.
End-stage, or stage IV, COPD is the final stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Most people reach it after years of living with the disease and the lung damage it causes. As a result, your quality of life is low. You'll have frequent exacerbations, or flares – one of which could be fatal.
The exact length of time you can live with COPD depends on your age, health, and symptoms. Especially if your COPD is diagnosed early, if you have mild stage COPD, and your disease is well managed and controlled, you may be able to live for 10 or even 20 years after diagnosis.
In mild to moderate COPD, most deaths are due to cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, but as COPD severity increases, respiratory deaths are increasingly common.
End-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to being in the final stages of the disease. At this stage, you can expect to experience significant shortness of breath even when resting. Because of the degree of lung damage at this stage, you are at high risk for lung infections and respiratory failure.
It takes several years to progress to the final stages of COPD or emphysema, but lifestyle factors play a role. Quitting smoking can significantly improve the outlook. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , COPD can progress quickly in people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency who also smoke.
Kick the Smoking Habit — It's Never Too Late
But it's actually never too late to quit, because doing so will slow the progression of the disease, says Mannino. “Without a doubt, the number one intervention for COPD is to stop smoking,” he says.
If climbing the stairs or walking up a slight incline has become harder for you, that could indicate your condition is deteriorating, says Dr. Wise. If the increase in shortness of breath is relatively mild, your symptoms could be managed by your doctor by increasing medication or adding medications, says McCormack.
COPD stage 4 life expectancy is 5.8 years. The same study also found that female smokers lost about nine years of their life at this stage.
Palliative care teams also help manage your shortness of breath by using medications that reduce the feeling of breathlessness. They can treat anxiety and depression with medications as well as talk therapy, massage and relaxation techniques. Having a chronic illness like COPD requires lifestyle changes.
Stage IV: Very Severe
You doctor may prescribe supplemental oxygen to help with your breathing.
Stage 4: Very Severe COPD
Shortness of breath and chest tightness occur with everyday activities, and it becomes a big effort just to breathe. Hospitalizations for breathing complications, lung infections, or respiratory failure are common during stage 4 COPD, and sudden flare-ups can be life-threatening.
The aim of palliative care in COPD patients is to reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and increase participation in day-to-day activities. This can be achieved in the following ways: Management of dyspnea. Oxygen therapy.