Meredith G. Hennon, MPH and the Supercourse team in Pittsburgh
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Meredith G. Hennon, MPH and the Supercourse
team in Pittsburgh
Background Asthma is a chronic lung-disease that
inflames and narrows the airways (tubes that bring air into and out of an individual’s lungs).
Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children.
Symptoms Common symptoms of asthma include:
CoughingWheezingTightness in the chestShortness of breath
Causes While the exact cause of asthma is not
known, it is thought that a variety of factors interacting with one another, early in life, result in the development of asthma.
Causes Parents with asthma Atopy Childhood respiratory infections Exposure to allergens or infections while
the immune system is developing
Diagnosis Based on:
Medical historyPhysical examinationTest results
Asthma Triggers A variety of things can cause asthma
symptoms to appear:○ Allergens○ Irritants○ Food and drinks○ Medicines○ Physical activity○ Upper respiratory infections (viral)
Asthma prevalence In the United States:
More females than males have asthma.Blacks and American Indian/Alaska natives
have higher percentages of asthma than Whites, Hispanics, and Asians.
Asthma prevalence, 2005
Lifetime asthma diagnosis, 2005
Asthma disparities Death from asthma is 3 times more
likely to occur among Blacks than Whites.
Among adults, women of all races have higher rates of illness and death from asthma than men.
Rates of hospitalization for asthma for Blacks are almost triple those for Whites.
Number of asthma deaths per 100,000 population, 2003
Increasing rates Asthma rates have been increasing in
the United States for both adults and children, males and females, and in the different races and ethnicities.
It is estimated that the number of people with asthma worldwide will increase by 25% in the next 15 years.
Child and Adult Asthma PrevalenceUnited States, 1980-2007
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Year
Prev
alen
ce (%
)
12-Month
Lifetime• Child Adult
Source: National Health Interview Survey; CDC National Center for Health Statistics
Current
Asthma Prevalence by SexUnited States, 1980-2007
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006 Year
Prev
alen
ce (%
)
12-Month
Lifetime• Female Male
Source: National Health Interview Survey; CDC National Center for Health Statistics
Current
Asthma Prevalence by Race/EthnicityUnited States, 1997-2007
02468
1012141618
Year
Prev
alen
ce (%
) Lifetime
Current
▲ Black NH White NH Hispanic
Source: National Health Interview Survey; National Center for Health Statistics
Worldwide Burden of Asthma 300 million people suffer from asthma
worldwide.
255,000 asthma deaths in 2005.○ ~3,500 in the United States.
Over 80% of asthma deaths occur in low and lower-middle income countries.
Treatment While asthma cannot be cured, it can be
controlled:Medications
○ Long term○ Quick relief○ Bronchial thermoplasty
Learning to recognize one’s own triggers and taking steps to avoid them.
Treatment Medication
Long term○ Inhaled corticosteroid○ Leukotriene modifiers○ Long-acting beta agonists○ Combination inhalers
TreatmentQuick relief (rescue) medications
○ Short-acting beta agonists○ Ipratropium○ Oral and intravenous corticosteroids
Bronchial thermoplastyRecognizing, tracking, and avoiding triggers
Review Questions (Developed by the Supercourse team)
What are some of the common asthma triggers?
Which age, sex, and/or racial groups see disparities in asthma prevalence rates, as well as hospitalizations and deaths?
Describe the process of asthma diagnosis.
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