2008 Georgia data summary: asthma and secondhand smoke [Aug. 2008]

2008 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 230,000 (10%) children in Georgia have asthma.
Approximately 41,000 (11%) middle school students in Georgia have asthma.
Approximately 44,000 (10%) high school students in Georgia have asthma.
Approximately 524,000 (8%) adults in Georgia have asthma.

CIGARETTE SMOKING PREVALENCE
Approximately 23,000 (6%) middle school students and 81,000 (19%) high school students in Georgia smoke cigarettes.
Approximately 1.3 million (19%) adults in Georgia smoke cigarettes

Percentage of children and adults who have asthma, Georgia, 2007
20%

10%

10%

8%

Percent

0% Children

Adults

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 sm oke, by asthm a status, Georgia, 2005

Percent

Asthm a No Asthm a

100

80

67

63

80

75

60

40

20

0 Middle School

High School

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 8% of middle school students with asthma and 19% of high school students with asthma smoke cigarettes.
Approximately 24% of adult Georgians with asthma smoke cigarettes.

Percent

Percentage of students and adults with asthma who smoke, Georgia, 2007

30% 25% 20% 15% 10%
5% 0%

19% 8%

Middle School Students

High School Students

24% Adults

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
There were more than 49,000 visits to the emergency room and over 10,000 hospitalizations for asthma in Georgia in 2006.
Emergency room visits and hospitalization rates are highest among children ages four and under.
On average, from 2001 to 2006, there were 116 asthma deaths per year.
Asthma hospitalizations by age group, Georgia, 2006

Rate per 100,000

300 258 250

264 246 221

200

155

150

108

129

100 50

82 31 46

0

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

Age Group

ASTHMA PREVENTION cont.
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 Age-Adjusted Death Rates, by race and sex, Georgia, 2001-2006
5

4
3.0 3
2.3

2 1.3

1

0.8

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.
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.

Rate per 100,000

0 White Males White Females Black Males Black Females

Tips for using an asthma management plan:

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.

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. 2007 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (http://health.state.ga.us/epi/brfss/publications.asp). 2. 2007 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, 2006 5. Georgia Emergency Department and Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data, 2006

Date updated: August 2008 Publication number: DPH08.207HW

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