How many patients are suffering from COPD in the United States? Do COPD sufferers die of respiratory causes or other causes?

In mild and moderate COPD, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease are the most common causes of mortality…. Cancer was the most common cause of death (54%), particularly lung cancer, followed by cardiovascular disease (22%). Only 8% of deaths were attributed to non–malignant respiratory disease”, (Berry & Wise, 2010). This means that often times patients don’t really die from COPD but die from other diseases causing them to have COPD.How many patients are suffering from COPD in the United States? Do COPD sufferers die of respiratory causes or other causes?