Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System - Asthma Call-back Survey

The Asthma Call-back Survey (ACBS) is a product of CDC’s National Asthma Control Program (NACP). The NACP plays a critical role in addressing asthma. The program funds states, cities, and school programs to help them improve surveillance of asthma, train health professionals, educate individuals with asthma and their families, and explain asthma to the public. The NACP is part of the Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch (APRHB) of the Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects (EHHE) in the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH).

The ACBS adds considerable depth to the existing body of asthma data. It addresses critical questions surrounding the health and experiences of persons with asthma and provides data at the state and local level. Asthma data need to be available at the state and local level to direct and evaluate interventions undertaken by asthma control programs located in state health departments. Improved tracking for asthma is critical for planning and evaluating efforts to reduce the health burden from this disease.

The ACBS is conducted approximately 2 weeks after the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) respondents who reported ever being diagnosed with asthma are eligible for the asthma Call-back. If a state includes children in the BRFSS and the randomly selected child has ever been diagnosed with asthma, then the child is eligible for the asthma Call-back. If both the selected child and the BRFSS adult in a household have asthma, then only one or the other is eligible for the ACBS.

The ACBS was piloted in 3 states in 2005 and has been conducted each year since. A majority of states participate in the ACBS each year.

The 2006 through 2012 ACBS data, documentation, and prevalence tables are now available through the links below.

ACBS History and Analysis Guidance – https://www.cdc.gov/Brfss/acbs/index.htm

ACBS Landline Only Prevalence Tables – https://www.cdc.gov/Brfss/acbs/index.htm

ACBS Landline-Cellphone Combined Prevalence Tables – https://www.cdc.gov/Brfss/acbs/index.htm

Questionnaires – https://www.cdc.gov/Brfss/acbs/index.htm

Federal Contacts for the Asthma Call-back Survey

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Contacts (CDC)
National Center for Environmental Health
Asthma and Community Health Branch
General Number: (770) 488-3700