Indicator Report - Asthma-related Emergency Department Visits
Why Is This Important?
Asthma can usually be managed in an outpatient setting, reducing the need for emergency department visits. Tracking rates of emergency department visits can aid in identifying populations or areas with inadequate access to routine medical care.An asthma attack can necessitate an emergency department visit 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 emergency department visits, are preventable if asthma is managed according to established guidelines. Effective management includes control of exposures to factors that trigger exacerbations, adequate pharmacological management, continual monitoring of the disease, and patient education in asthma care.
Emergency Department Visits due to Asthma by Year, Utah, 2000-2009
Data Notes
The ICD-9 code used to define asthma is 493. All ED encounters are included in the presented data, which includes those that were treat and release visits, as well as those that resulted in hospital admission.Age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.Data Sources
Emergency Department Encounter Database, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, Utah Department of Health. Population Estimates: Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget.Other Views
- by Local Health District, Utah, 2007-2009
- by Age Groups: 0-4, 5-64, and 65+, Utah, 2009
- by Age and Sex, Utah, 2009
- by Utah Small Area, 2005-2009
- by Month, Utah, 2000-2009
Definition
Rate: Emergency department visits due to asthma (ICD-9 code 493) per 10,000 Utah residents.Number: Emergency department visits due to asthma.
How We Calculated the Rates
| Numerator: | Rate/Number: Number of emergency department visits among the Utah population with asthma as the principle diagnosis. |
| Denominator: | Rate: Utah Population. Number: Not applicable. |
Page Content Updated On 11/15/2011,
Published on 03/07/2012
