Indicator Definitions – Asthma

Print
Related Pages

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. The causes of asthma are unknown, but genetic, environmental, and occupational factors have been linked to developing asthma.

Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine and avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack. CDC’s National Asthma Control Program works to help Americans with asthma achieve better health and quality of life by improving surveillance of asthma, training health professionals, educating people with asthma and their families, and explaining asthma to the public.

For more information see Asthma | CDC

Definition Details

Asthma mortality among all people, underlying cause
Population: All people
Numerator: Deaths with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes J45-J46 as the underlying cause of death among residents during a calendar year
Denominator: Midyear resident population for the same calendar year.
Measure: Mortality rate (crude and age-adjusted); number [cases per 100,000]
Time Period of Case Definition: Calendar year
Summary: The asthma mortality rate was 10.8 per million among all persons during 2016–2018.1 During 2006–2018, the asthma mortality rates overall and among adults decreased significantly, while rates among children remained stable.1 Asthma mortality rates differ significantly by demographic characteristics. For example, in 2016–2018, the rate was higher among Black persons and significantly lower among Asian persons and Hispanic persons than among White persons.1 The rate was also higher among females than males.1 The majority of the problems associated with asthma are preventable if the condition is managed according to established guidelines. Effective management includes control of exposure to factors that trigger exacerbations, adequate pharmacologic management, continual monitoring of the disease, and patient education in asthma care. With proper management, deaths from asthma are theoretically preventable.2,3
Notes: None
Data Source: National Vital Statistics System (NVSS)
Related Objectives or Recommendations: None
Related CDI Topic Area: None
Reference 1: Pate CA, Zahran HS, Qin X, Johnson C, Hummelman E, Malilay J. Asthma Surveillance — United States, 2006–2018. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2021;70(5):1–32. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.ss7005a1
Reference 2: Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, US Department of Health and Human Services; 2007.
Reference 3: Cloutier MM, Baptist AP, Blake KV, et al. 2020 focused updates to the asthma management guidelines: a report from the national asthma education and prevention program coordinating committee expert panel working group. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020;146(6):1217–1270.

Current asthma among adults
Population: All people
Numerator: Adults who answer “yes” to both the question, “Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have asthma?” and the question, “Do you still have asthma?”
Denominator: All adults
Measure: Annual prevalence (crude and age-adjusted)
Time Period of Case Definition: Calendar year
Summary: Overall, the number of U.S. adults who currently have asthma increased from 14.0 million (6.9%) in 20011 to 21.0 million (8.4%) in 2020.2 In 2020, the prevalence of current asthma  was highest among adults below 100% of the poverty threshold (13.1%).2 The prevalence of current asthma was highest among non-Hispanic multiracial adults (14.4%) followed by non-Hispanic Black persons (11.4%).3 Among states and territories, estimates of adult current asthma prevalence in 2020 ranged from 5.0% in Guam to 12.4% in West Virginia.2  Compared to persons without asthma, persons with asthma are more likely to report depression,4-7 be unemployed, spend more days sick in bed, and have limitations or inability to conduct normal work.8 There is no cure for asthma, and it requires ongoing medical management.9-10
Notes: None
Data Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
Related Objectives or Recommendations: None
Related CDI Topic Area: None
Reference 1: National Center for Environmental Health. National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Data (2022). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2001. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/nhis/default.htm
Reference 2: National Center for Environmental Health (2022). Most Recent National Asthma Data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_data_states.htm
Reference 3: National Center for Environmental Health. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Surveillance Data (2022). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2001. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/brfss/default.htm
Reference 4: King ME. Serious psychological distress and asthma. In: Preedy VR. Scientific Basis of Healthcare. Science Publishers; 2012:86-107.
Reference 5: Strine TW, Mokdad AH, Balluz LS, et al. Depression and anxiety in the United States: findings from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Psychiatr Serv. 2008;59:1383-1390.
Reference 6: Chapman DP, Perry GS, Strine TW. The vital link between chronic disease and depressive disorders. Prev Chronic Dis. 2005;2:A14.
Reference 7: Scott KM, Von Korff M, Ormel J, et al. Mental disorders among adults with asthma: results from the World Mental Health Survey. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2007;29(2):123-33. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2006.12.006
Reference 8: Sullivan PW, Ghushchyan VH, Slejko JF, et al. The burden of adult asthma in the United States: evidence from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011 Feb;127(2):363-369.e1-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.10.042.
Reference 9: Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, US Department of Health and Human Services; 2007.
Reference 10: Cloutier MM, Baptist AP, Blake KV, et al. 2020 focused updates to the asthma management guidelines: a report from the national asthma education and prevention program coordinating committee expert panel working group. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020;146(6):1217-1270. Erratum in: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;147(4):1528-1530. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.10.003

Additional Data Sources

data-statistics-sruveillance

Data, Statistics, and Surveillance | Asthma | CDC

doctor-child-asthma

Asthma | Tracking | NCEH | CDC

healthy-people-2030-green

Respiratory Disease – Healthy People 2030 | health.gov

places-local-data

PLACES: Local Data for Better Health | CDC