Asthma
Asthma is a condition that makes it difficult to breathe. It usually begins with exposure to a "trigger," which is exposure to something (typically, an external allergen) that causes the airways to react.
During an asthma attack, the lung airways tighten and fill with fluid. The resulting effects are chest tightness, wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing. Asthma attacks can vary in severity, and triggers vary
from person to person. There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed with proper medication and by avoiding things that trigger your asthma.
The CDC National Asthma Control Program reports that 1 in 12 children and adults have asthma. Based on the most recent data available, there were 2.0 million emergency department visits and 3,615 deaths due to
asthma across the U.S. in 2014.
Since there is no cure for asthma, it is a health burden that stays with people for their whole lives. This translates into lifelong costs for medication and treatment, as there are many direct and indirect economic costs associated with asthma. The CDC reports asthma costs Americans about $56 billion per year. In Utah, it is estimated that asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations cost $27.6 million in 2013. For a complete report on the costs of asthma in Utah, please see the Financial Burden of Asthma in Utah report.
Since there is no cure for asthma, it is a health burden that stays with people for their whole lives. This translates into lifelong costs for medication and treatment, as there are many direct and indirect economic costs associated with asthma. The CDC reports asthma costs Americans about $56 billion per year. In Utah, it is estimated that asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations cost $27.6 million in 2013. For a complete report on the costs of asthma in Utah, please see the Financial Burden of Asthma in Utah report.
Asthma triggers can come from a variety of sources, such as outdoor allergens, chemicals used in certain occupations, vigorous exercise, or even some medical conditions. Some common triggers include:
- Dust mites
- Pollen
- Second hand smoke
- Mold
- Air pollution and smoke
- Strenuous exercise
- Pets
- Cockroaches
There are many factors that influence the risk of developing asthma. The CDC reports that risk is increased in the following areas:
- Sex: Males are more likely to have asthma in children. However, for adults, females are more likely to have asthma.
- Age: Young adults ages 18-24 are more likely to have asthma when compared with older adults.
- Race and ethnicity: Black children are twice as likely to have asthma than white children. Multiracial and black adults have a higher risk than white adults. Asthma attacks have decreased in children of all races since 2001.
- Education: Adults who did not graduate high school have a higher risk than adults who did graduate high school or college.
- Income: People with incomes below $75,000 per year are more likely to have asthma than those who have greater incomes.
- Behavior: Smoking increases the risk of asthma as does obesity.
Although there is no cure, it is possible to reduce the risk of severe complications, hospitalizations, and death caused by asthma by properly taking prescribed medication and knowing possible triggers. When you
know what triggers your asthma, you can take preventive action to avoid them, and prevent asthma attacks.
Once you are diagnosed with asthma, your healthcare provider will advise you on proper management. Asthma can usually be managed in an outpatient setting, reducing the need for emergency department visits. Effective management includes control of exposures to factors that trigger exacerbations, using medicine as prescribed, monitoring the disease, and patient education in asthma care.
People who work in school-based health centers may be able to help children manage their asthma. This includes helping reduce exposures to environmental asthma triggers, education, case management, improving indoor air quality, improving students' home environments, and improving outdoor air quality around the school and community. The Public Health Insitiute developed a guide for school-based health centers. Follow this link for more information: Asthma Environmental Intervention Guide for School-Based Health Centers
Once you are diagnosed with asthma, your healthcare provider will advise you on proper management. Asthma can usually be managed in an outpatient setting, reducing the need for emergency department visits. Effective management includes control of exposures to factors that trigger exacerbations, using medicine as prescribed, monitoring the disease, and patient education in asthma care.
People who work in school-based health centers may be able to help children manage their asthma. This includes helping reduce exposures to environmental asthma triggers, education, case management, improving indoor air quality, improving students' home environments, and improving outdoor air quality around the school and community. The Public Health Insitiute developed a guide for school-based health centers. Follow this link for more information: Asthma Environmental Intervention Guide for School-Based Health Centers
Reports from the Utah Asthma Program
- Asthma in Utah Burden Report, 2018
- Asthma in Homes: Exposure to Triggers and Use of Modifications, 2018
- Asthma in Schools: Data from the Utah Prevention Needs Assessment, 2016
- The Utah Asthma Plan, 2012-2016
- Asthma Mental Health Report, 2015
Resources
- Air Pollution and Asthma - Utah Environmental Epidemiology Program
- Asthma Environmental Intervention Guide for School-Based Health Centers
- Asthma's Impact on the Nation - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Program Websites
- Utah Asthma Program - home page
Indicator Reports (includes contextual information)
Number of Asthma Hospitalizations
Crude Rates of Asthma Hospitalizations
- Statewide Crude Rates of Hospitalizations, by Year
- Crude Rates of Hospitalizations, by Year, by County (choose Age Group)
Age-Adjusted Rates of Asthma Hospitalizations
- Statewide Age-Adjusted Rates of Hospitalizations, by Year
- Age-Adjusted Rates of Hospitalizations, by Year, by County
Financial Cost of Asthma Hospitalizations
Number of Asthma Emergency Department Visits
Crude Rates of Asthma Emergency Department Visits
- Statewide Crude Rates of ED Visits, by Year
- Crude Rates of ED Visits, by Year, by County (choose Age Group)
Age-Adjusted Rates of Asthma Emergency Department Visits
- Statewide Age-Adjusted Rates of ED Visits, by Year
- Age-Adjusted Rates of ED Visits, by Year, by County
Financial Cost of Asthma Emergency Department Visits
- Total Charges for Asthma Emergency Department Visits, by Local Health Department
- Average Charge per Visit for Asthma Emergency Department Visits, by Local Health Department
Indicator Reports (includes contextual information)
Childhood Asthma Prevalence
Adult Asthma Prevalence
- Prevalence by Income Level
- Prevalence by Local Health Department
- Prevalence by Ethnicity
- Prevalence by Race
- Prevalence Among Adults Aged 18 and Over, Utah and U.S.
- Prevalence Among Adults Ages 25 and Over by Educational Level
Asthma Prevalence by Geographic Area
Inpatient Hospital Discharges and Emergency Department Visits (based on Discharge Date)
- Inpatient Hospital Discharge (based on Discharge Date) - includes Discharges, Length of Stay, Charges, and Deaths
- Emergency Department Encounter (based on Discharge Date) - includes Treat and Release, Treat and Admit (Inpatient), and All Encounters
Inpatient Hospital Discharges (based on Admission Date)
Emergency Department Encounters (based on Admission Date)
- Asthma Count of Emergency Department Encounters
- Asthma Crude Rate of Emergency Department Encounters
- Asthma Age-adjusted of Emergency Department Encounters
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The UEPHTN receives data regarding asthma hospitalizations and emergency department visits from the Office of Health Care Statistics in the Utah Department of Health. Asthma prevalence data comes
from the Utah Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. The BRFSS survey is conducted by the Survey Center in the Office of Public Health Assessment.
Note: The asthma data on this website only reflects severe cases. The Utah EPHT Network uses hospital data to generate data for the asthma data measures. Hospital data only includes more severe cases since asthma is traditionally managed in the outpatient setting. The data does not account for less severe or mild asthma cases.
View complete metadata.
Note: The asthma data on this website only reflects severe cases. The Utah EPHT Network uses hospital data to generate data for the asthma data measures. Hospital data only includes more severe cases since asthma is traditionally managed in the outpatient setting. The data does not account for less severe or mild asthma cases.
View complete metadata.
