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Complete Health Indicator Report of Asthma Hospitalizations

Definition

Rate: Number of hospitalizations due to asthma per 10,000 population.[[br]] Number: Number of hospitalizations due to asthma.

Numerator

Rate/Number: Number of hospitalizations among the Utah population with asthma as the principle diagnosis.

Denominator

Rate: Number of Utah residents.[[br]] Number: Not applicable.

Data Interpretation Issues

Several studies unexpectedly found a reduction in pediatric asthma emergency department (ED) visits during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (1-3). These studies concluded public health measures like social distancing, mask-wearing, school closures, and stay-at-home orders resulted in reduced exposure to respiratory viruses and reduced asthma exacerbations, and therefore a decline in rates of asthma ED visits (1-3). 1. Arsenault S, Hoofman J, Poowuttikul P, Secord E. Sustained decrease in pediatric asthma emergency visits during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2021; 42(5): 400-402. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8677502/] 2. Ulrich L, Macias C, George A, Bai S, Allen E. Unexpected decline in pediatric asthma morbidity during the coronavirus pandemic. Pediatric Pulmonology. 2021; 56(7): 1951-1956. [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ppul.25406] 3. Akelma Z, Baskaya N, Cetin S, Bostanci I, Ozmen S. Improvement in school-aged children with asthma during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pediatric Pulmonology. 2022; 57(10): 2518-2523. [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ppul.26068]

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 hospitalization and can be initiated by a variety of triggers. Some of these include exposure 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.

How Are We Doing?

In 2022, Utah's overall age-adjusted asthma hospitalization rate was 3.2 visits per 10,000 people. There are specific groups with rates 3 to 5 times higher than the state rate. These include males aged 0-4 and 5-9 (14.9 and 12.7 per 10,000 people) and females aged 0-4 and 5-9 (9.3 and 8.8 per 10,000 people).

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Asthma Program (UAP) works with the Utah Asthma Task Force and other partners to maximize the reach, impact, efficiency, and sustainability of comprehensive asthma control services in Utah. This is accomplished by providing a seamless alignment of asthma services across the public health and health care sector, ensuring that people with asthma receive all of the services they need. The UAP focuses on building program infrastructure and implementing strategies that improve asthma control, reduce asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and reduce health care costs. Program infrastructure is strengthened through a focus on strategies to create and support a comprehensive asthma control program, these strategies include: strengthening leadership, building strategic partnerships, and using strategic communication, surveillance, and evaluation. In addition, the UAP implements strategies outlined in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) EXHALE technical package to improve asthma control. The six strategy areas outlined in the EXHALE technical package are:[[br]] 1. Education on asthma self-management.[[br]] 2. e-Xtinguishing smoking and secondhand smoke.[[br]] 3. Home visits to trigger reduction and asthma self-management.[[br]] 4. Achievement of guidelines-based medical management.[[br]] 5. Linkages and coordination of care across settings.[[br]] 6. Environmental policies or best practices to reduce asthma triggers from indoor, outdoor, and occupational sources. These strategies are expected to improve asthma control and quality of life by increasing access to health care and increasing coordination and coverage for comprehensive asthma control services both in the public health and health care sectors. Specifically, these strategies include identifying people with poorly controlled asthma, linking them to health care providers and NAEPP EPR-3 guidelines-based care, educating them on asthma self-management strategies, providing a supportive school environment, and referring to or providing home trigger reduction services for those who need them.

Available Services

A list of Utah Asthma Program services for clinicians, community health workers, and people with asthma can be found here: [https://asthma.utah.gov/] Additionally, individual programs in the Office Health Promotion and Prevention provide information and education to citizens, physicians, and health care providers on chronic conditions. Resources can be found here: [https://dhhs.utah.gov/office-of-health-promotion-and-prevention/]

Health Program Information

Utah Asthma Program website: [https://asthma.utah.gov/] CDC EXHALE package: [https://www.cdc.gov/national-asthma-control-program/php/exhale/index.html]


Related Indicators

Related Relevant Population Characteristics Indicators:


Related Health Care System Factors Indicators:


Related Risk Factors Indicators:




Graphical Data Views

Hospitalizations due to asthma by age group, Utah, 2022

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Age groupInpatient hospital visits per 10,000 populationLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 5
0-412.210.813.7
5-146.86.17.5
15-341.41.21.7
35-641.81.62.0
65+1.91.52.3

Data Notes

Asthma was identified using the the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 113 selected causes asthma definition.

Data Sources

  • Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data, Healthcare Information & Analysis Programs, Office of Research & Evaluation, Utah Department of Health and Human Services
  • For years 2020 and later, the population estimates are provided by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah state and county annual population estimates are by single year of age and sex, IBIS Version 2022


Hospitalizations due to asthma by sex and age, Utah, 2019-2022

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Males vs. FemalesAge groupInpatient hospital visits per 10,000 populationLower LimitUpper LimitNote
Record Count: 36
MaleLess than 11.40.72.3
Male1-4 yrs13.112.014.3
Male5-9 yrs7.36.68.1
Male10-14 yrs2.82.43.2
Male15-17 yrs1.00.71.4
Male18-19 yrs0.60.31.1
Male20-24 yrs0.80.61.1
Male25-34 yrs1.00.81.2
Male35-44 yrs1.31.11.6
Male45-54 yrs1.21.01.5
Male55-64 yrs1.20.91.5
Male65+ yrs1.00.81.3
FemaleLess than 1**0.11.1**
Female1-4 yrs8.07.18.9
Female5-9 yrs5.14.55.8
Female10-14 yrs1.91.52.3
Female15-17 yrs1.81.42.3
Female18-19 yrs1.20.81.7
Female20-24 yrs2.01.62.4
Female25-34 yrs1.81.52.0
Female35-44 yrs2.52.22.8
Female45-54 yrs2.01.72.4
Female55-64 yrs2.11.82.5
Female65+ yrs2.42.02.7
TotalLess than 10.90.51.4
Total1-4 yrs10.69.911.4
Total5-9 yrs6.25.86.7
Total10-14 yrs2.32.12.6
Total15-17 yrs1.41.11.7
Total18-19 yrs0.90.61.3
Total20-24 yrs1.31.11.6
Total25-34 yrs1.41.21.5
Total35-44 yrs1.91.72.1
Total45-54 yrs1.61.41.8
Total55-64 yrs1.61.41.9
Total65+ yrs1.71.52.0

Data Notes

Asthma was identified using the the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 113 selected causes asthma definition.   [[br]][[br]] **The estimate has been suppressed because 1) the relative standard error is greater than 50% or 2) the observed number of events is very small and not appropriate for publication.

Data Sources

  • Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data, Healthcare Information & Analysis Programs, Office of Research & Evaluation, Utah Department of Health and Human Services
  • For years 2020 and later, the population estimates are provided by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah state and county annual population estimates are by single year of age and sex, IBIS Version 2022
  • Population Estimates for 2000-2019: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2020


Hospitalizations due to asthma crude rates by year, Utah, 2016-2022

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

YearCrude rate per 10,000Lower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 7
20163.23.03.5
20172.72.52.9
20182.72.52.8
20192.62.42.8
20201.81.61.9
20212.52.32.6
20223.23.03.4

Data Notes

Asthma was identified using the the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 113 selected causes asthma definition.   [[br]][[br]]

Data Sources

  • Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data, Healthcare Information & Analysis Programs, Office of Research & Evaluation, Utah Department of Health and Human Services
  • For years 2020 and later, the population estimates are provided by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah state and county annual population estimates are by single year of age and sex, IBIS Version 2022
  • Population Estimates for 2000-2019: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2020


Hospitalizations due to asthma counts by year, Utah, 2016-2022

::chart - missing::

YearNumber of hospitalizations
Record Count: 7
2016990
2017843
2018838
2019833
2020579
2021828
20221,093

Data Notes

Asthma was identified using the the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 113 selected causes asthma definition.   [[br]][[br]]As of October 1, 2015, the U.S. is currently using the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) to code hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Prior to the change, asthma hospitalizations and emergency department visits were defined as having an ICD-9 primary diagnosis code of 493. In the ICD-10 classification asthma is defined using the J45 code. Comparison of data prior to the code change may not be appropriate.

Data Source

Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data, Healthcare Information & Analysis Programs, Office of Research & Evaluation, Utah Department of Health and Human Services


Asthma hospitalization total charges by local health district, Utah, 2022

::chart - missing::

Local health districtTotal charges
Record Count: 14
Bear River$1,114,245
Central$350,115
Davis County$1,760,649
Salt Lake County$8,908,188
San Juan$18,675
Southeast$94,248
Southwest$1,134,141
Summit$124,962
Tooele$695,336
TriCounty$508,500
Utah County$3,052,504
Wasatch$201,229
Weber-Morgan$1,970,531
State of Utah$19,933,322

Data Notes

Asthma was identified using the the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 113 selected causes asthma definition.

Data Source

Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data, Healthcare Information & Analysis Programs, Office of Research & Evaluation, Utah Department of Health and Human Services


Asthma hospitalization average charge per visit by local health district, Utah, 2021-2022

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Local health districtAverage charge per visitLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 14
Bear River$19,252$15,035$23,469
Central$14,604$11,162$18,046
Davis County$18,429$15,458$21,400
Salt Lake County$18,954$17,632$20,275
San Juan$18,332$9,258$27,406
Southeast$18,894$9,831$27,957
Southwest$16,258$14,255$18,262
Summit$17,253$11,975$22,530
Tooele$18,513$15,531$21,494
TriCounty$15,372$13,512$17,233
Utah County$18,150$16,506$19,795
Wasatch$15,772$10,411$21,132
Weber-Morgan$19,310$17,203$21,416
State of Utah$18,388$17,615$19,160

Data Notes

Asthma was identified using the the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 113 selected causes asthma definition.

Data Source

Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data, Healthcare Information & Analysis Programs, Office of Research & Evaluation, Utah Department of Health and Human Services


Asthma hospitalizations age-adjusted rates by local health district, Utah, 2018-2022

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Local health districtAge-adjusted rate per 10,000 populationLower LimitUpper LimitNote
Record Count: 14
Bear River1.61.31.8Lower than State
Central2.01.62.5Similar to State
Davis County2.22.02.4Lower than State
Salt Lake County3.13.03.3Similar to State
San Juan1.70.83.0Similar to State*
Southeast1.61.12.3Lower than State
Southwest1.71.52.0Lower than State
Summit1.71.22.4Similar to State
Tooele3.73.14.4Similar to State
TriCounty5.44.66.3Higher than State
Utah County1.91.82.1Lower than State
Wasatch2.11.52.9Similar to State
Weber-Morgan2.62.42.9Similar to State
State of Utah2.52.43.4

Data Notes

Asthma was identified using the the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 113 selected causes asthma definition.   [[br]][[br]]*Use caution in interpreting. The estimate has a coefficient of variation >30% and is therefore deemed unreliable by Utah Department of Health and Human Services standards. Rates were age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population. Data reported are for all years using the current boundaries.

Data Sources

  • Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data, Healthcare Information & Analysis Programs, Office of Research & Evaluation, Utah Department of Health and Human Services
  • For years 2020 and later, the population estimates are provided by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah state and county annual population estimates are by single year of age and sex, IBIS Version 2022
  • Population Estimates for 2000-2019: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2020


Hospitalizations due to asthma age-adjusted rates by year, Utah, 2016-2022

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

YearInpatient hospital visits per 10,000 populationLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 7
20163.12.93.3
20172.62.42.8
20182.52.42.7
20192.52.32.7
20201.81.61.9
20212.42.32.6
20223.23.03.4

Data Notes

Asthma was identified using the the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 113 selected causes asthma definition.   [[br]][[br]]Rates were age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population. As of October 1, 2015, the U.S. is currently using the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) to code hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Prior to the change, asthma hospitalizations and emergency department visits were defined as having an ICD-9 primary diagnosis code of 493. In the ICD-10 classification asthma is defined using the J45 code. Comparison of data prior to the code change may not be appropriate. The decrease in asthma case counts from ICD-9 to ICD-10 in asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits can be attributed to the availability of new codes as well as changes in coding guidelines and the CCS classification rules for chronic obstructive asthma. More information can be found here: [https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/datainnovations/ICD-10_DXCCS_Trends112817.pdf]

Data Sources

  • Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data, Healthcare Information & Analysis Programs, Office of Research & Evaluation, Utah Department of Health and Human Services
  • For years 2020 and later, the population estimates are provided by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah state and county annual population estimates are by single year of age and sex, IBIS Version 2022
  • Population Estimates for 2000-2019: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2020

References and community resources

Utah Asthma Program[[br]] [https://asthma.utah.gov/] Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America[[br]] [http://www.aafa.org] American Lung Association[[br]] [http://www.lung.org][[br]] [[br]] Asthma and outdoor air pollution:[[br]] [https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2018-03/asthma-flyer_0.pdf][[br]] [https://air.utah.gov/] Utah Tobacco Control and Prevention Quitting Resources[[br]] [http://www.waytoquit.org]

More Resources and Links

Additional indicator data by state and county may be found on these websites:

Medical literature can be queried at PubMed library.

Page Content Updated On 08/07/2024, Published on 09/11/2024
Utah Asthma Program, Office of Health Promotion and Prevention, Utah Department of Health and Human Services | Phone: 1-888-222-2542 | Website: asthma.utah.gov | Email: asthma@utah.gov
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH website (https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Wed, 22 January 2025 3:51:48 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health website: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/ ".

Content updated: Wed, 11 Sep 2024 09:30:51 MDT