An Overview of the Asthma Burden in New Mexico

1
An Overview of the Asthma Burden in New
Mexico Brad Whorton, Ph.D. Asthma
Epidemiologist New Mexico Department of Health
2
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the
airways characterized by wheezing, coughing,
breathlessness and chest tightness. Asthma
symptoms can be triggered by allergens
(substances that cause an allergic response) or
irritants (substances that irritate the nose or
airways, provoking asthma symptoms), such as
animal dander, air pollution, exercise, cold air,
or stress.
3

• Prevalence who has asthma and how many have it?
• Who went to the hospital for asthma?
• Who went to the emergency room for asthma?
• Who died of asthma?

4
New Mexicos Health Regions
Colfax
Union
Taos
San Juan
Rio Arriba
Mora
Harding
2
Los Alamos
McKinley
Sandoval
1
Santa Fe
San Miguel
Bernalillo
3
Cibola
Quay
Guadalupe
Valencia
Torrance
Region 1
Curry
De Baca
Region 2
Catron
Region 3
Socorro
Roosevelt
5
Region 4
Lincoln
Chaves
Region 5
4
Sierra
Grant
Lea
Otero
Eddy
Dona Ana
Luna
Hidalgo
5

• Lifetime Prevalence the percent of individuals
  that said that a doctor or other health care
  professional told them at some point in their
  life that they had asthma.
• Adults 14.5 (approximately 202,947 NM
  residents)
• Children 14.4 (approximately 71,278 NM
  residents)

• Current Prevalence the percent of individuals
  that reported that they still had asthma.
• Adults 8.9 (approximately 123,468 NM
  residents)
• Children 10.7 (approximately 50,933 NM
  residents)

SOURCE BRFSS, 2005.
6
Current and Lifetime ASTHMA Prevalence () for
New Mexico Youth, 2005
17.9
14.4
14.4
14.9
14.2
13.1
12.4
14.0
11.9
10.8
17.9
10.7
10.7
14.2
14.9
8.7
8.7
13.1
14.4
12.4
10.7
14.0
11.9
10.7
8.7
10.8
8.7
NOTE Lifetime Prevalence bars are in red
Current Prevalence bars are in blue. SOURCE
Analysis by EHEB, NMDOH Data from BRFSS.
7
SOURCE Analysis by EHEB, NMDOH Data from BRFSS.
8
SOURCE Analysis by EHEB, NMDOH Data from BRFSS,
2005.
9
Percent Current and Lifetime Asthma Prevalence
Among High School Students, 2005
Males
Both Sexes
Females




plt.05. Source NM YRRS, 2005 US YRBS, 2005.
10
Asthma Hospital Discharge Rates by County,
2001-2003 Average
All Ages
STATE RATE 9.7
NOTE Age-adjusted rates are based on primary
diagnosis and are per 10,000 standard population.
The data include state residents who were
admitted to in-state non-federal
hospitals. SOURCE Analysis by EHEB, NMDOH.
Data from the NM Health Policy Commission.
Rates based on fewer than 20 cases are
statistically unreliable and should be
interpreted with caution.
11
NOTE Age-specific rates include those cases
where asthma was the primary diagnosis and are
per 10,000 population. State residents who were
admitted to in-state non-federal hospitals are
included. SOURCE Analysis by EHEB, NMDOH Data
from NM Health Policy Commission.
12
NOTE Age-adjusted rates include those cases
where asthma was the primary diagnosis and are
per 10,000 standard population. State residents
who were admitted to in-state non-federal
hospitals are included. SOURCE Analysis by
EHEB, NMDOH Data from NM Health Policy
Commission.
13
NOTE Age-specific rates include those cases
where asthma was the primary diagnosis and are
per 10,000 population. State residents who were
admitted to in-state non-federal hospitals are
included. SOURCE Analysis by EHEB, NMDOH Data
from NM Health Policy Commission.
14
Asthma Emergency Room Discharge Rates, 2001-2003
Average
All Ages
STATE RATE 30.6
NOTE Age-adjusted rates are per 10,000 standard
population. The data include state residents who
were admitted to in-state non-federal
hospitals. SOURCE Analysis by EHEB, NMDOH.
Data from statewide emergency departments.
Rates based on fewer than 20 cases are
statistically unreliable and should be
interpreted with caution.
15
ASTHMA Emergency Department Discharge Rates (All
Ages), 2001-2003 Average
NOTE Age-adjusted rates include those cases
where asthma was the primary diagnosis and are
per 10,000 standard population. State residents
who were admitted to in-state non-federal
emergency departments are included. SOURCE
Analysis by EHEB, NMDOH. Data from non-federal
emergency departments in New Mexico.
16
(No Transcript)
17
NOTE Age-adjusted rates are based on deaths to
New Mexico residents and are age-adjusted per
100,000 standard population. SOURCE Analysis by
EHEB, NMDOH. Data provided by BVRHS.
18
ASTHMA Death Rates by Region of the State,
2001-2005 Average
NOTE Age-adjusted rates are based on deaths to
New Mexico residents and are age-adjusted per
100,000 standard population. SOURCE Analysis by
EHEB, NMDOH. Data provided by BVRHS.
19
Main ASTHMA Highlights

• Current Prevalence is higher among the states
  youth population than in the adult population.
• Among youth, New Mexicos asthma prevalence is
  higher than the national average.
• The hospitalization rate is highest among the
  youngest age groups.
• Southeastern New Mexico s youth hospitalization
  rate is more than three times the state rate.
• Southeastern New Mexicos youth emergency room
  rate is almost double the state rate.

20
Questions . . . ?