BE affects more than 500,000 people in the United States, though experts believe the actual number is much higher. The disease is more common in older adults, with approximately 75% of those diagnosed aged 65 or older. It also occurs more often in women, who account for roughly 65% of cases. Over the past 25 years, the number of people diagnosed with BE has increased steadily at approximately 8% per year. Some of this increase is due to greater use of CT scans, which make the disease easier to detect. Patients who previously had lung infections (such as recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia) may develop BE as a result of the damage caused by these infections but the BE was not recognized until it was found later during a CT scan for another issue. Evidence also points to an actual rise in cases as well, highlighting BE as an important and growing public health issue.