KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - The number of hospital admissions for childhood asthma in King County increased by 53% between 1987 and 1998 while the rate of childhood hospitalization (per 100,000 children) increased by almost one-fifth, according to a new report issued today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This contrasts with the rate of all childhood hospitalizations, which decreased by 28% during the same time period.
The largest increases occurred during the early- to mid-1990s. In recent years, this rate has leveled off, but remains high. About 6 percent of King County children (one in 15) have asthma.
"The burden of asthma is disproportionately high among low income families," said Dr. David Solet, Senior Epidemiologist with Public Health - Seattle & King County and lead author on the report. "Our report shows that children in low-income neighborhoods are also three times as likely to be hospitalized with asthma as those in higher-income neighborhoods."
"Eliminating these inequalities is central to our public health mission," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Hospitalization for asthma, for the most part, can be prevented when kids and their parents are taught to manage the disease at home."
"We want people to learn about this disease and how to control it so that children with asthma can lead normal, healthy lives," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
This report -- written by epidemiologists from Public Health, the University of Washington and CDC -- also confirmed findings from earlier Public Health reports that hospitalization rates continue to be highest in children one to four years old and in children living in urban areas of King County.
The full report, entitled Childhood Asthma Hospitalizations - King County, Washington, 1987-1998, is available online at www.metrokc.gov/health/datawatch
Preventing asthma episodes by reducing and controlling asthma triggers is the best long-term defense against the disease. Asthma triggers include tobacco smoke, dust mites, roaches, pets, molds, and indoor and outdoor air pollutants. Persons with asthma should avoid exposure to these as much as possible, especially to cigarette smoke.
Strategies on controlling asthma can be found on Public Health's website at www.metrokc.gov/health/asthma. These strategies emphasize creating a safe harbor in homes and schools that are free from the pollutants that trigger asthma episodes.
The report also spotlights community partnerships in King County in which Public Health - Seattle & King County participates to combat the local asthma increase. Key examples include:
- King County Asthma Forum, which brings community asthma organizations together to discuss and coordinate prevention, diagnosis, and management of asthma;
- Seattle Healthy Homes Project, a community intervention project designed to reduce exposure to indoor asthma triggers among low-income households containing children with asthma; and,
- Asthma Outreach Project, which provides comprehensive case management for children with asthma.
