Chronic lower respiratory disease comprises three major diseases: chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma, and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

In 2019-21, Whites and African Americans in Westchester County had the highest mortality rates from chronic lower respiratory disease, at 20 and 21 per 100,000, respectively. Hispanics had the third highest rate (10 per 100,000), followed by Asians (6 per 100,000). Westchester County's rate for African Americans was on higher than the state's rate (20 per 100,000), while its rates for all other race/ethnicities were below state rates. Since 2016-18, rates increased among Whites and Hispanics and were largely stable among African Americans and slightly decreased among Asians.

Compared to similar counties, Westchester had the highest morality rate from chronic lower respiratory disease among African Americans, larger than Rockland (18) and Nassau (13); the second highest rate among Asians and Hispanics; and the lowest rate among Whites.

Inequalities in economic status, education and occupation put some populations more at risk of many of the health behaviors and social determinants of health associated with chronic lower respiratory disease, such as tobacco smoking, indoor and outdoor air pollution, exposure to allergens and occupational agents, diet, obesity and physical inactivity.

Rates are age-adjusted, meaning adjusted to account for differences in age distributions across geographies. Some data for Putnam County is not shown because the numbers are so low that the rate is considered unstable and not reported.