Rate: Number of hospitalizations due to asthma (ICD-9 code 493) per 10,000 population. Number: Number of hospitalizations due to asthma (ICD-9 code 493).
Numerator
Rate/Number: Number of hospitalizations among the Utah population with asthma as the principle diagnosis.
Denominator
Rate: Number of Utah residents. Number: Not applicable.
Why Is This Important?
Asthma can usually be managed in an outpatient setting, reducing the need for inpatient hospitalization. Tracking rates of
hospitalization can aid in identifying populations or areas with inadequate access to routine medical care.
An asthma attack can result in a hospitalization and can be initiated by a variety of triggers. Some of these include exposures
to environmental tobacco smoke, dust mites, cockroach allergen, mold, pets, strenuous physical exercise, and air pollution.
Two key air pollutants that can affect asthma are ozone (found in smog) and PM or particulate matter (found in haze, smoke,
and dust).
The majority of problems associated with asthma, including hospitalization, are preventable if asthma is managed according
to established guidelines. Effective management includes control of exposure to factors that trigger exacerbations, adequate
pharmacological management, continual monitoring of the disease, and patient education in asthma care.
Healthy People Objective RD-2:
Reduce hospitalizations for asthma U.S. Target: Not applicable, see subobjectives in this category
Other Objectives
Healthy People 2020 sub-objectives and targets for RD-2: Reduce hospitalizations for asthma:
RD-2.1: Children under age 5 years - U.S. Target: 18.1 hospitalizations per 10,000 - Utah Target: 15.4 hospitalizations per 10,000
RD-2.2: Children and adults aged 5 to 64 years - U.S. Target: 8.6 hospitalizations per 10,000 - Utah Target: 3.7 hospitalizations per 10,000
RD-2.3: Adults aged 65 years and older - U.S. Target: 20.3 hospitalizations per 10,000 - Utah Target: 6.7 hospitalizations per 10,000
How Are We Doing?
Utah is below the Healthy People 2020 objectives for asthma hospitalizations. In 2011 Utah's overall hospitalization rate
was 5.7 visits per 10,000 people. Of particular interest is the high number of hospitalizations due to asthma among males
aged 1-4, and females aged 65+.
What Is Being Done?
The Utah Asthma Task Force, with participation from the Utah Department of Health's Asthma Program, American Lung Association
of Utah, health care providers, school personnel, and other professionals working with asthma developed the Utah Asthma Plan.
This statewide plan identifies numerous strategies that will help fulfill the vision of "Utah communities working together
to improve the quality of life for people with chronic asthma symptoms by increasing awareness, access, and education." Action
groups are currently working on a number of projects identified in the state plan. In addition, surveillance is ongoing to
assess the burden of asthma, asthma trends, and to evaluate how asthma affects health-related quality of life.
Other Program Information
www.health.utah.gov/asthma
Utah Asthma Program, Bureau of Health Promotion, Division of Disease Control and Prevention, Utah Department of Health, PO Box 142106, Salt Lake
City, UT 84114-2106, 801-538-6226, http://health.utah.gov/asthma
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health's Center for
Health Data IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.utah.gov). The information published
on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation:
"Retrieved
Sun, 26 May 2013 2:39:28
from Utah Department of
Health, Center for Health Data, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web
site: http://ibis.health.utah.gov".
