What is Epidemiology?

1
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.
2
Child and Adult Asthma PrevalenceUnited States,
1980-2007
Lifetime

• Child
• Adult

Current
12-Month
Source National Health Interview Survey CDC
National Center for Health Statistics
3
Asthma Prevalence by SexUnited States, 1980-2007

• Female
• Male

Lifetime
12-Month
Current
Source National Health Interview Survey CDC
National Center for Health Statistics
4
12-Month Asthma Prevalence by RaceUnited States,
1980-1996
Black
White
Source National Health Interview Survey CDC
National Center for Health Statistics
5
Asthma Prevalence by Race/EthnicityUnited
States, 1997-2007

• Black NH
• White NH
• Hispanic

Lifetime
Current
Source National Health Interview Survey
National Center for Health Statistics
6
Diversity
7
Current Asthma Prevalence for Youth by
Race/Ethnicity, Ages 5-17, 2005-2007
10.1 Overall
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
National Center for Health Statistics. Health
Data Interactive. www.cdc.gov/nchs/hdi.htm. July
15, 2009.
8
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
109857865. 2National Center for Health
Statistics. Health data for all ages
http//www.cdc.gov/nchs/health_data_for_all_ages.h
tm. 3Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
and National Pharmaceutical Council. Ethnic
Disparities in the Burden and Treatment of
Asthma. Reston, 2005.
9
Population Disparities in Asthma

• Current asthma prevalence is higher among
• children than adults
• boys than girls
• women than men
• Asthma morbidity and mortality is higher among
• African Americans than Caucasians

Source MMWR 200756(No. SS-8)1-54
10
Asthma Hospital Discharge Rates by Sex United
States 1980-2006
Females
Males
Source National Hospital Discharge Survey, CDC
National Center for Health Statistics,
First-listed diagnosis, Age-adjusted to 2000
U.S. population
11
Adult and Child Asthma Hospital Discharge Rates
United States, 1996-2006
Children
Adults
Source National Hospital Discharge Survey, CDC
National Center for Health Statistics ,
First-listed diagnosis, Age-adjusted to 2000
U.S. population
12
Asthma Hospital Discharge Rates by RaceUnited
States, 1980-2006
Black
White
Other
Source National Hospital Discharge Survey, CDC
National Center for Health Statistics,
First-listed diagnosis, Age-adjusted to 2000
U.S. population
13
Asthma Mortality Rates by Sex, United States
1979-2005
ICD-9
ICD-10
Female
Male
Source Underlying Cause of Death National
Center for Health Statistics Age-adjusted to
2000 U.S. population
14
Asthma Mortality Rates by Age United States
1979-2005
ICD-9
ICD-10
65
35-64
5-9
Source Underlying Cause of Death CDC National
Center for Health Statistics Age-adjusted to
2000 U.S. population
15
Asthma Mortality Rates by RaceUnited States
1979-2005
ICD-9
ICD-10
Black
Other
White
Source Underlying Cause of Death CDC National
Center for Health Statistics Age-adjusted to
2000 U.S. population