2007 Georgia data summary: asthma and secondhand smoke [Aug. 2007]

2007 Georgia Data Summary:
ASTHMA and SECONDHAND SMOKE

Asthma is a common and costly disease. Secondhand smoke can trigger and worsen asthma attacks and symptoms in youth and adults. Appropriate disease management and avoidance of triggers can reduce the burden of asthma.

ASTHMA PREVALENCE
Approximately 137,000 (10%) children ages 10 and younger in Georgia have asthma.
Approximately 56,000 (15%) middle school students and 70,000 (16%) high school students in Georgia have asthma.
Approximately 540,000 (8%) adults in Georgia have asthma.

CIGARETTE SMOKING PREVALENCE
Approximately 25,000 (7%) middle school students and 73,000 (17%) high school students in Georgia smoke cigarettes.
Approximately 1.3 million (20%) adults in Georgia smoke cigarettes.

Percentage of youth and adults who have asthma, Georgia, 2005, 2006

Percent

50

40

30

20

15

10

0

Middle School Students

16
High School Students

8 Adults

*Student data are from 2005; adult data are from 2006.

SECONDHAND SMOKE1 EXPOSURE

Approximately two-thirds of middle school students and three-fourths of high school students are exposed2 to secondhand smoke, regardless of asthma status.

Percentage of youth exposed to secondhand smoke, by asthma status, Georgia, 2005

Percent

Asthma No Asthma

100

80

67

63

80

75

60

40

20

0 Middle School Students

High School Students

1. Secondhand smoke (SHS) is the combination of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe and the smoke exhaled by smokers.
2. Youth exposed to SHS at home, in a room, in a car and through friends who smoke.

CIGARETTE SMOKING AND ASTHMA
Approximately 4,500 (8%) middle school students with asthma and 14,000 (20%) high school students with asthma smoke cigarettes.
Approximately 151,000 (28%) adult Georgians with asthma smoke cigarettes.

Percent

Percentage of youth and adults with asthma who smoke, Georgia, 2005 and
2006 50

40
30
20 8
10

28 20

0 Middle School Students

High School Students

Adults

*Student data are from 2005; adult data are from 2006.

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

HEALTH BURDEN

ASTHMA PREVENTION cont.

There were more than 50,000 visits to the emergency department and over 12,000 hospitalizations for asthma in Georgia in 2005.
Emergency department visits and hospitalization rates are highest among children ages four and under.
On average, from 2000 to 2005, there were 117 asthma deaths per year.

Rate per 100,000

Asthma hospitalizations by age group,

400 350 323

Georgia, 2005

314 333

300

244

250

200 142

177 148

150

89

100

38 48

50

0 0-4 5-14 15- 25- 35- 45- 55- 65- 75- 85+ 24 34 44 54 64 74 84

Age Group

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

Asthma death rates, by race and sex, Georgia, 2000-2005

An asthma management plan is a written guide set up by your doctor and you to help manage your asthma, based on your individual needs.

Rate per 100,000

5

4

3.2

3

2.4

2

0.8

1.4

1

0

White Males

White Females

Black Males

Black Females

ASTHMA PREVENTION and EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO SMOKE
Despite the fact that smoking may trigger asthma attacks, youth and adults with asthma continue to smoke.
Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
Stopping smoking and limiting exposure to secondhand smoke can help reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.

Your plan will tell you:
What brings on your asthma symptoms. How to avoid triggers and reduce exposure. What medicines to take and when to take
them. 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 equipment, such as nebulizers,
properly. Schedule routine visits to discuss your
asthma with your doctor. Let your doctor know if your plan is not
working, so that the plan can be revised as needed.

Data sources: 1. 2006 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (http://health.state.ga.us/epi/brfss/publications.asp). 2. 2005 Georgia Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) (http://health.state.ga.us/epi/cdiee/studenthealth.asp). 3. 2005 Georgia Youth Tobacco Survey (http://health.state.ga.us/epi/cdiee/tobaccouse.asp). 4. Georgia Vital Statistics, 2005 5. Georgia Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data, Office of Health Information and Policy (OHIP), 2005 6. 2002 Georgia Childhood Asthma Survey

Date updated: August 2007 Publication number: DPH07/117HW

Visit http://www.health.state.ga.us/epi/cdiee/asthma.asp for more information about asthma in Georgia. Visit http://www.health.state.ga.us/epi/cdiee/tobaccouse.asp for more information about tobacco use in Georgia.

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