2006 Georgia data summary: asthma [Aug. 2006]

2006 Georgia Data Summary:
ASTHMA
It is estimated that 10% of children in Georgia have asthma. Among children with asthma, hospitalization rates are highest for those under the age of four.

WHAT IS ASTHMA?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lungs and airways that causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing.
Appropriate disease management can reduce the burden of asthma.
CHILDHOOD ASTHMA PREVALENCE
Approximately 212,000 (10%) of children 17 years in Georgia have asthma.
Approximately 56,000 (15%) of middle school students in Georgia have asthma.
Approximately 70,000 (16%) of high school students in Georgia have asthma.
ADULT ASTHMA PREVALENCE
Approximately 480,000 (7%) of adults in Georgia have asthma.
Asthma is more common among adult women (9%) than adult men (5%).
Adults with higher education and income are less likely to be affected by asthma.
EMERGENCY ROOM (ER) VISITS
There were more than 47,000 ER visits in 2004 with asthma as the primary diagnosis.
The overall rate of ER visits due to asthma was 510 per 100,000 in 2004.
Asthma ER charges were approximately $35 million.
Children aged 1-4 had the highest ER visit rates, 1,445 per 100,000 populations.
ER visit rates decrease as age increases.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
There were more than 11,000 hospitalizations in 2004 with asthma as the primary diagnosis.
Blacks are twice as likely to be hospitalized as whites.
Asthma hospitalization charges were more than $107 million.
Hospitalization rates are the highest for children under the age of four.

Rate/100,000

Asthma Hospitalization Rates by Age Group, Georgia 2004

500

400

387.8

300 273.6 200 100

261.0

202.6

146.1

136.5

42.8 41.4 78.1

0 <1 1-4 5-12 13-19 20-29 30-44 45-59 60-74 75+

Age Group

DEATHS
On average from 2000 to 2004 there were 117 asthma deaths per year (1.6 per 100,000)
Blacks are 2.6 times more likely to die from asthma than whites.
Women are 1.6 times more likely to die from asthma than men.
Death rates from asthma increase with age.

Rate/100,000

Asthma Death Rates by Race and Sex, Georgia 2000-2004

4

3

3 2

2

1

0.8

1

0

White Males

1.4
White Females

2.3 Black Males

3.2
Black Females

Race and Sex

Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health 2 Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 657-3103 gdphinfo@dhr.state.ga.us http://health.state.ga.us

CHILDREN: Medicine Use
Among children with asthma, 84% use prescription medicine, including 36% with prescriptions for control and quick-relief medicine, 14% with a prescription only for control medicine, and 34% with a prescription only for quick relief medicine.
Among children with asthma who have a prescription only for quick relief medicine, 55% (17% of all children with asthma) use 2 prescriptions per year.
CHILDREN: Asthma Management and Training
65% of children with asthma do not have a written asthma management plan.
Most (82%) of caretakers and children with asthma have been taught asthma management.

Disease management practices and training for children with asthma, Georgia 2002-2003

Management practice/training

%

No routine check-ups for asthma

30

No written asthma management plan

65

Two or more quick-relief prescriptions per year but no control medicine

17

No training on how to manage asthma*

18

No training to recognize signs and symptoms of an attack*

28

No training about things that can trigger asthma attacks*

23

No training on use of peak flow meter*

13

No training on use of inhaler (among those with inhaler)*

6

No training on use of spacer (among those with spacer)*

30

*For either caregiver or child 5 years

ADULTS: Asthma Management
56% of adults with asthma reported having had an episode of asthma or an asthma attack within the past 12 months.
14% of adults with asthma reported they were unable to work or carry out usual actvities on one or more days during the past 12 months.
42% of adults with asthma reported having no routine checkups for their asthma in the past 12 months.
35% of adults had at least one ER visit or hospital visit during the past 12 months.

Control medicine: medicine designed to control airway inflammation and prevent attacks from occurring
Quick-relief medicine: medicine designed to provide quick relief of asthma symptoms during an attack or exacerbation

ASTHMA PREVENTION
Know the common triggers
Exposure to the following environmental irritants and allergens can cause an asthma attack:
- Tobacco smoke - Dust mites - Pets (animal dander) - Cockroaches - Fungi and molds (indoor and outdoor)
Take control of asthma
Reduce exposure to your triggers. Work with your doctor to create an asthma
management plan. Monitor your breathing and airways with a peak
flow meter, as recommended by your doctor. Treat symptoms early. Learn when to seek medical help.
Create an asthma management plan
An asthma management plan is a written guide set up by your doctor and you to help manage asthma based on your individual needs.
Your plan will tell you:
- What brings on your asthma symptoms.
- How to avoid triggers and reduce exposure.
- What medicine to take and when to take it.
- When you need to seek medical help.
Tips for using an asthma management plan:
- Go over each step of the plan with your doctor.
- Understand instructions for medications.
- Learn to use asthma equipment properly.
- Schedule routine visits to discuss your asthma with your doctor.
- If your plan is not working, discuss with your doctor revisions that may be needed.
Data sources:
2005 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2005 Georgia Youth Tobacco Survey 2002 Georgia Childhood Asthma Survey Date updated: August 2006 Publication number: DPH06/124HW Visit http://www.health.state.ga.us/epi/cdiee/asthma.asp for more information about asthma in Georgia.

Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health 2 Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 657-3103 gdphinfo@dhr.state.ga.us http://health.state.ga.us