What is Epidemiology?

The study of the distribution and determinants of diseases and injuries in human populations.

Source: Mausner and Kramer, Mausner and Bahn Epidemiology- An Introductory Text, 1985.

Child and Adult Asthma PrevalenceUnited 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

Pre

vale

nce

(%)

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

Pre

vale

nce

(%)

12-Month

Lifetime•

Female

Male

Source: National Health Interview Survey; CDC National Center for Health Statistics

Current

12-Month Asthma Prevalence by RaceUnited States, 1980-1996

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Year

Pre

vale

nce (

%)

Source: National Health Interview Survey; CDC National Center for Health Statistics

Black

White

Asthma Prevalence by Race/EthnicityUnited States, 1997-2008

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Year

Pre

va

len

ce

(%

)

Lifetime

Attack

Current

▲ Black NH

White NH

Hispanic

Source: National Health Interview Survey; National Center for Health Statistics

14.2

9.1 10

7.1

10.2

02468

10121416

Non

-His

pani

cB

lack

Non

-H

ispa

nicW

hite

His

pani

c

Asi

an

Am

eric

anIn

dian

/ A

lask

aN

ativ

e

Current Asthma Prevalence for Youth by Race/Ethnicity, Ages 5-17, 2005-2007

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Health Data Interactive. www.cdc.gov/nchs/hdi.htm. [July 15, 2009].

10.1% Overall10.1% Overall

Asthma Disparities Among U.S. Children

Low-income populations, minorities, and children living in inner cities experience more ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to asthma than the general population.1

The burden of asthma falls disproportionately on non-Hispanic black, American Indian/Alaskan Native and some Hispanic (i.e., Puerto Rican) populations.2, 3

1Lieu TA et al. Racial/Ethnic Variation in Asthma Status and Management Practices Among Children in Managed Medicaid. Pediatrics 2002; 109:857–865.

2National Center for Health Statistics. Health data for all ages http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/health_data_for_all_ages.htm.

3Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and National Pharmaceutical Council. Ethnic Disparities in the Burden and Treatment of Asthma. Reston, 2005.

Population Disparities in Asthma Current asthma prevalence is higher

amongchildren than adultsboys than girlswomen than men

Asthma morbidity and mortality is higher amongAfrican Americans than Caucasians

Source: MMWR 2007;56(No. SS-8):1-54

Asthma* Hospital Discharge Rates# by Sex United States: 1980-2006

Source: National Hospital Discharge Survey, CDC National Center for Health Statistics, * First-listed diagnosis, # Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. population

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

Year

Rat

e pe

r 10

,000

Males

Females

Adult and Child Asthma Hospital Discharge Rates

United States, 1996-2006

Source: National Hospital Discharge Survey, CDC National Center for Health Statistics ,* First-listed diagnosis, # Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. population

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Year

Rat

e p

er 1

0,00

0

Children

Adults

Asthma Hospital Discharge Rates by Race

United States, 1980-2006

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006 Year

Rat

e pe

r 10

,000

WhiteOther

Black

Source: National Hospital Discharge Survey, CDC National Center for Health Statistics, * First-listed diagnosis, # Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. population

Asthma Mortality Rates by Age United States: 1979-2005

0

20

40

60

80

100

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004 Year

Rat

e pe

r m

illi

on

65 +

Source: Underlying Cause of Death; CDC National Center for Health Statistics* Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. population

ICD-9ICD-10

35-64

5-9

Asthma Mortality Rates by RaceUnited States: 1979-2005

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004 Year

Rat

e pe

r m

illi

on

White

Black

Source: Underlying Cause of Death; CDC National Center for Health Statistics* Age-adjusted to 2000 U.S. population

ICD-9 ICD-10

Other