TUESDAY, March 2 (HealthDay News) -- Since 2000, the prevalence of adult asthma has significantly increased in more than one-third of U.S. states, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, held from Feb. 28 to March 2 in New Orleans.
Teresa A. Morrison, M.D., of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues used 2000 to 2008 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to identify nine-year trends and three-year averages in asthma prevalence (2000 to 2002, 2003 to 2005, and 2006 to 2008) for all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
During 2000 to 2008, the researchers found that overall asthma prevalence was 7.85 percent with rates ranging from 5.04 percent in Louisiana to 10.68 percent in Rhode Island, and that the three-year averages for the United States increased by 0.5 percent. They also found that 19 states and Washington, D.C. had significant increases in their three-year averages, with the largest increases occurring in Oklahoma and Alabama (2.03 and 1.91 percent, respectively).
"Further study to identify state-specific factors should be pursued to improve our understanding of asthma etiology, to enhance self-management, and to promote state-specific prevention strategies," the authors conclude.
Abstract No. 908
Press Release
More Information
