Asthma in Arizona
Asthma Fast Facts 2007.doc [55.00 Kb 7/1/2008]
- Asthma is a major chronic disease, affecting the lives of more than 600,000 Arizonans
- The rate and seriousness of asthma in Arizona is worse than the U.S. average
- Each year there are approximately 80 unnecessary deaths in Arizona
- Arizona has the second highest rate of asthma in the nation
- Eight percent (8%) of all school children have asthma
- Over half (57.4%) of the admissions due to asthma are females
- Although desert communities were once a haven for those with asthma and other breathing difficulties, this is no longer the case
- Adult Hispanics are more likely not to have any health care coverage
Asthma in the US
Every day in the U.S.:
• 40,000 people miss school or work due to asthma.
• 30,000 people have an asthma attack.
• 5,000 people visit the emergency room due to asthma.
• 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma.
• 11 people die from asthma.
Currently the state of Arizona does not have an Asthma Program. As a result, there is no comprehensive approach to reducing the high asthma illness and death rates. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. There are more than 20 million adults and 6 million children diagnosed with asthma in the United States and that number is increasing. This represents an enormous financial impact in both the quality of life for people living with asthma, as well as many school days and work days lost.
In 2005, almost 8 percent of Arizona adults reported they currently have asthma, and the rate among children is even higher. Persons living in both urban and rural areas of Arizona are affected. Approximately 1 in 10 adults in Yuma County reported that they have asthma, and data from 2001 show that 6.5 percent of children are treated for asthma annually, with a slight increase in those seeking services over the years. In Maricopa County, in 2003, 6 percent of children received care for asthma. These treatment rates are higher than the 4 percent national rate.
Asthma is a costly disease. There were 40,000 asthma-related hospital discharges in the US 2005, many involving persons without health insurance. The American Lung Association estimates that the economic burden of asthma is over $16 billion annually. The CDC estimates that there were 14 million school days missed because of asthma in children in 2005.
 | Asthma is a major chronic disease, affecting the lives of more than 600,000 Arizonans. There are approximately 80 deaths each year due to asthma in Arizona. These dealths are avoidable with good care and management. |
 | In 2005, the Coalition published a position paper on current issues about asthma in Arizona.The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness about the seriousness of asthma in Arizona. |
 | No one should die from asthma. People living with this chronic disease can lead normal, active lives if their asthma is properly managed. |