Trends in Asthma Morbidity and Mortality 

American Lung Association 

Epidemiology and Statistics Unit 

Research and Program Services Division 

July 2011 
Table of Contents

Asthma Mortality, 1979-1998, 1999-2007 

Asthma Prevalence, 1982-1996 and 1997-2009 

Asthma Hospital Discharges, 1979-2006 

Asthma Ambulatory Care Visits, 1989-2006 

Economic Cost of Asthma, 2010 

Glossary and References 

List of Tables

Table 1: Asthma – Number of Deaths by Race and Sex, 1979-1998, 1999-2007 

Table 2: Asthma – Age-Adjusted Death Rate per 100,000 population, by Race and Sex, 1979-1998, 1999-2007 

Table 3: Asthma – Number of Deaths and Age-Adjusted Death Rate per 100,000 population by Ethnic Origin and Sex, 

1999-2007 

Table 4: Asthma – Number of Deaths in 10-Year Age Groups, 1979-1998, 1999-2007 

Table 5: Asthma – Mortality Rate per 100,000 population, by 10-Year Age Groups, 1979-1998, 1999-2007 

Table 6: Asthma – Number of People Ever Told by a Health Professional that they had Asthma and Prevalence Rate per 

1,000 population, by Age, Sex and Race, 1999-2009 (Lifetime Prevalence) 

Table 7: Asthma – Number of Conditions and Prevalence Rate per 1,000 population by age, 1982-1996, 2001-2009 

(Current Prevalence) 

Table 8: Asthma – Number of Conditions and Prevalence Rate Per 1,000 population by Sex, 1982-1996, 2001-2009 

(Current Prevalence) 

Table 9: Asthma – Number of Conditions and Prevalence rates Per 1,000 population by Race and Age, 1982-1996, 2001-

2009 (Current Prevalence) 

Table 10: Asthma – Number of People Who Had an Asthma Attack or Episode and Prevalence Rate Per 1,000 population 

by Age, Sex and Race, 1999-2009 (Attack Prevalence) 

Table 11: Asthma – Number of Conditions and Prevalence Rate per 1,000 population by Ethnic Origin, 1998-2009 

Table 12: Asthma – Estimated Lifetime Prevalence (%) in Adults, by State, 2000-2009 

Table 13: Asthma – Estimated Current Prevalence (%) in Adults, by State, 2000-2009 

Table 14: Asthma – Estimated Lifetime and Current Prevalence (%) in Adults for Selected Areas, 2009 

Table 15: Asthma – Estimated Lifetime Prevalence (%) in Children, by State, 2006-2009 

Table 16: Asthma – Estimated Current Prevalence (%) in Children, by State, 2006-2009 

Table 17: Asthma – Number of First-Listed Hospital Discharges and Rate per 10,000 population by Sex, 1979-2006 

Table 18: Asthma – Number of First-Listed Hospital Discharges and Rate per 10,000 population by Age, 1979-2006 

Table 19: Asthma – Number of First-Listed Hospital Discharges and Rate per 10,000 population by Race, 1988-2006 

Table 20: Asthma – Number of Visits to Physician Offices, Outpatient Departments and Emergency Departments, 1989-

2006 

List of Figures

Figure 1: Asthma – Age-Adjusted Death Rates Based on the 1940 and 2000 Standard Populations, 1979-2007 

Figure 2: Percentage Distribution of Lifetime Asthma by Sex, Age, Ethnic Origin and Geographic Region, 2009 

Figure 3: Percentage Distribution of Current Asthma by Sex, Age, Ethnic Origin and Geographic Region, 2009 

Figure 4: Percentage Distribution of Asthma Attacks by Sex, Age, Ethnic Origin and Geographic Region, 2009 

Figure 5: Self-Reported Current Asthma Prevalence (%) Among Adults by State, 2009 

Figure 6: Self-Reported Current Asthma Prevalence (%) Among Children by State, 2009 

Figure 7: Asthma – First-Listed Hospital Discharge Rate per 10,000 population by Age, 1979-2006 

Figure 8: Asthma – First-Listed Hospital Discharge Rate per 10,000 population by Race, 1988-2006
Introduction

Many Americans are afflicted by asthma, a serious chronic lung disease caused by continual airway 

inflammation punctuated by episodes or attacks of increased inflammation, often in response to specific 

triggers. These attacks are characterized by difficulty in breathing, which occasionally are extreme and 

can constitute a medical emergency. Over the period 1980 through 1996, the prevalence of asthma in the 

United States increased.1 Since 1999, mortality and hospitalizations due to asthma have decreased, and 

asthma prevalence was stable since 2001, although it now appears to be increasing. 

The following report delineates information available from national and state-based surveys on the 

mortality, prevalence, hospitalizations, ambulatory care visits and economic costs due to asthma. Since 

Hispanics can be of any race, comparisons among racial groups are made without regard to ethnicity 

unless otherwise noted. 

Asthma Mortality

Beginning with 1999 mortality data, the population standard used for calculating age-adjusted death 

rates was changed from the 1940 population to the 2000 population.I

 In addition, starting with 1999 

data, the tenth revision of international classification of diseases (ICD-10) replaced ICD-9 in coding and 

classifying mortality data from death certificates.II Due to the change in age-adjusted standard 

population and decennial revisions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding system, 

the number and rate of asthma deaths between 1999 and 2007 are not directly comparable to those 

reported between 1978 and 1998. Figure 1 compares the asthma age-adjusted death rates based on the 

1940 and 2000 standard populations from 1979-2007. 

Table 1 documents the number of deaths by race and sex between 1979 and 2007. In 2007, 3,447 people 

died of asthma. Approximately 63% of these deaths occurred in women. Table 2 displays the ageadjusted death rate per 100,000 population by race and sex for the same years. The age-adjusted death 

rate for 2007 was 1.1 per 100,000. In 2007, the female age-adjusted death rate was 33% greater than the 

rate seen in males. The age-adjusted death rate was 2.8 times higher among the black population than 

among the white population (2.5 versus 0.9 per 100,000, respectively). Black women had the highest 

age-adjusted mortality rate due to asthma in 2007 (2.2 per 100,000).2

 

I

 The change from the 1940 standard to the 2000 standard has three important outcomes: (i) provides age-adjusted rates that 

are less divergent from crude rates (ii) ensures that all government agencies use the same standard and (iii) corrects the public 

perception that age adjustment to the 1940 population provides out-of-date statistics. Use of the 2000 population standard 

places more weight on death rates at older ages and less weight on death rates at younger ages. Because most lung disease 

rates increase with age, death rates using the new standard are higher than those using the old standard. Age-adjusted deaths 

rates for asthma were approximately 1.4 times greater using the 2000 standard population than those based on the 1940 

standard population. 

II The ICD is periodically revised to reflect changes in the medical field. This change has several consequences: (i) new 

cause-of-death titles and corresponding cause-of-death codes, i.e. ICD-10 has alphanumeric categories rather than numeric 

categories, (ii) breaks in comparability of cause-of-death statistics, and (iii) restructuring of the leading causes of death. In 

order to assess the net effect of the new revision on death statistics, a comparability ratio is derived. The comparability ratio 

is calculated by dividing the number of deaths for a selected cause of death classified by the new revision by the number of 

deaths classified to the most nearly comparable cause of death by the previous revision. A comparability ratio of 1 denotes 

no change between revisions; a ratio of less than 1 signifies a decrease and a ratio of greater than 1 symbolizes an increase in 

deaths. The comparability ratio for asthma was 0.8938, indicating an 11% decrease in assignments of deaths due to asthma 

when using ICD-10. 
Table 3 delineates the number of deaths and age-adjusted death rate per 100,000 population by Hispanic 

origin. In 2007, 239 Hispanics died of asthma – an age-adjusted death rate of 0.8 per 100,000 

population. Age-adjusted death rates in Hispanics were 69% lower than non-Hispanic blacks, and 11% 

higher than non-Hispanic whites.3 However, studies have suggested that Puerto Ricans had higher ageadjusted death rates than all other Hispanic subgroups and non-Hispanic whites and blacks.4

Tables 4 and 5 delineate the number of deaths and mortality rates for asthma by 10-year age groups 

from 1979 to 2007. Asthma deaths are rare among children and increase with age. In 2007, 152 children 

under 15 died from asthma (0.2 per 100,000 population) compared to 659 adults over 85. The death rate 

in those 85 and over was 173% greater than the second highest mortality rate, seen among those 75-84 

years of age (12.0 per 100,000 versus 4.4 per 100,000).5

Unlike morbidity estimates, which are drawn from sample populations and extrapolated to the overall 

population, mortality data is obtained from the general population from death certificates. Therefore, 

sex- and race-specific mortality figures are actual counts that denote differences between groups. 

In recent years the number of deaths due to asthma has declined, even after the ICD-10 revision is taken 

into account. The number of asthma deaths has decreased by 26% since 1999. 

Asthma Prevalence

National Health Interview Survey, 1982-1996 and 1997-2009 

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a multi-purpose health survey conducted by the 

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is 

the principal source of information on the health of the civilian, noninstitutionalized, household 

population of the United States. 

Despite the periodic revision of the NHIS Core questionnaire, Supplements began to play an 

increasingly important role in the survey as a means of enhancing topic coverage in the Core section. 

The unintended result was an increasingly unwieldy survey instrument and longer interviewing sessions: 

recent questionnaires (Core and Supplements combined) ran almost 300 pages, while the interviews 

averaged two hours. This imposed an unacceptable burden on NCHS staff, US Bureau of Census 

interviewers, the data collection budget, and on the NHIS respondents. Furthermore, the excessive 

length of NHIS interviews contributed to declines in both response rate and data quality. For all these 

reasons, NCHS implemented a redesigned NHIS questionnaire in 1997. 

Between 1997 and 2000, the revised questionnaire made it impossible to compare asthma estimates with 

those prior to 1997. The revised questionnaire evaluated both lifetime and attack prevalence of asthma. 

Respondents or their proxies were asked if they had ever been diagnosed with asthma by a health 

professional in their lifetime and if so, had they had an asthmatic attack or episode in the past 12 

months. The question on asthma attack prevalence assists public health professionals in planning 

interventions by measuring the population at risk for serious outcomes from asthma. 

To improve data quality in 2001, National Health Interview Survey respondents or their proxies who 

answered yes to ever being diagnosed with asthma by a health professional in their lifetime were also 
asked if they still had asthma. This comes closest to the question asked in the National Health Interview 

Survey prior to 1997 – “Has anyone in your family had asthma during the past 12 months?” 

These estimates most likely reflect an underestimate of true asthma prevalence, since studies have 

shown that there are individuals suffering from undiagnosed asthma.6,7

Lifetime Prevalence

Based on the 2009 NHIS sample, it was estimated that 39.9 million Americans, or 132.5 per 1,000 

persons, had been diagnosed with asthma by a health professional within their lifetime. Since 1999, 

children 5-17 years of age have had the highest prevalence rates. In 2009, 8.5 million children ages 5-17 

had been diagnosed with asthma in their lifetime. These data are displayed in Table 6.

8

Females traditionally have consistently higher rates of asthma than males. In 2009, females were about 

11.1% more likely than males to ever have been diagnosed with asthma.9

Blacks are also more likely to be diagnosed with asthma over their lifetime. In 2009, the prevalence rate 

in blacks was 27.9% higher than the rate in whites.10 The lifetime asthma prevalence rates for the two 

races have been statistically significant every year since 1997. 

Current Prevalence

Data between 1982 and 1996 should not be compared to 2001-2009 estimates. 

Age-specific current asthma prevalence trends are shown in Table 7. Approximately 24.6 million 

Americans (including 7.1 million children) had asthma in 2009; a rate of 81.5 per 1,000 population. The 

highest prevalence rate was seen in those 5-17 years of age (109.3 per 1,000 population). Overall, the 

rate in those under 18 (96.1 per 1,000) was significantly greater than those over 18 (76.8 per 1,000).11

 

Sex-specific current asthma prevalence trends are delineated in Table 8. In 2009, 10.3 million males and 

14.2 million females had asthma. The overall prevalence rate in females (92.7 per 1,000 persons) was 

33% greater than the rate in males (69.9 per 1,000 persons). Among adults over 18 years, females were 

76% more likely than males to have asthma (97.0 per 1,000 vs. 55.1 per 1,000). However, this pattern is 

reversed among children. The current asthma prevalence rate for boys under 18 (112.8 per 1,000) was 

44% higher than the rate among girls (78.6 per 1,000). The difference in rates between sexes was 

statistically significant in both children and adults.12

Race- and age-specific current asthma prevalence trends are displayed in Table 9. In 2009, the current 

asthma prevalence rate was 43% higher in blacks than in whites (111.5 per 1,000 persons versus 78.1 

per 1,000 persons, respectively). This difference between races was statistically significant. The highest 

prevalence rates for whites and blacks were among the 5-17 age group. Whites under age 5 and blacks 

age 65 and older had the lowest prevalence rates compared to other age groups within each race.13

Attack Prevalence
Table 10 displays asthma attack prevalence estimates between 1999 and 2009. In 2009, an estimated 

12.8 million Americans (including 4.1 million children under 18) had an asthma attack. This represents 

48% of the 24.6 million people who currently have asthma. The asthma attack rate was 42.6 per 1,000 

population.14

For the past ten years, 5-17 year olds had the highest attack prevalence rates while those over 65 had the 

lowest every year until 2009, when those 18-44 had the highest. Since 1999 the asthma attack 

prevalence rate in those under 18 has been significantly greater than among those over 18; in 2009, these 

rates were 54.8 versus 28.8 per 1,000 respectively.15

Females tend to have consistently higher attack prevalence rates than males. In 2009, 7.6 million 

females (49.6 per 1,000) had an asthma attack compared to 5.2 million males (35.2 per 1,000). The 

difference in attack prevalence rates between sexes has been significant each year since 1999.16

The asthma attack prevalence rate in blacks was 40% higher than the rate in whites. This difference 

between races was statistically significant. In 2009, asthma attack prevalence rates in whites and blacks 

were highest among the 5-17 age group and lowest in those 65 years and older.17

Asthma in Hispanics

Table 11 displays the number of conditions and prevalence rates by Hispanic origin. In 2009, 5.3 

million Hispanics had been diagnosed with asthma in their lifetime; 3.0 million reported that they still 

have the disease, and 1.6 million of those experienced an asthma attack in the past year. Lifetime, 

current and attack prevalence rates in Hispanics were significantly lower than non-Hispanic blacks and 

non-Hispanic whites in 2009.18 Studies have suggested that within Hispanic subgroups, Puerto Ricans 

may have higher rates of asthma than other Hispanic subgroups and non-Hispanic whites.

Percentage Distribution of Conditions

Percentage distributions of lifetime asthma, current asthma and asthma attacks in 2009 are displayed in 

Figures 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Each figure displays the distribution of asthma by sex, age group, 

ethnicity and geographic region. The overall percentage of asthma sufferers tend to be highest in the 

South, in non-Hispanic whites, in 18-44 year olds, and in females.19

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2003-2008 

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a state-based telephone survey of the 

noninstitutionalized U.S. population aged 18 and over that collects information about modifiable risk 

factors for chronic diseases and other leading causes of death. This is the first survey to collect statespecific asthma prevalence data for adults. 

Questions on lifetime and current asthma prevalence in the BRFSS are comparable to the National 

Health Interview Survey, but estimates vary due to sampling design. According to the 2009 BRFSS, an 

estimated 31.0 million adults (13.4%) had been diagnosed with asthma within their lifetime and 19.5 

million adults (8.4%) still had asthma in 2009. This compares to 29.7 million adults (13.1 %) and 17.5 

million adults (7.7%) who were diagnosed with lifetime and current asthma, respectively, in the 2009 
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Confidence intervals for the prevalence rates indicate that the 

current but not lifetime estimates from both surveys were statistically different.20

Tables 12 and 13 display estimated state-specific lifetime and current asthma prevalence in adults 

between 2003 and 2009. Figure 5 shows the estimated state-specific current asthma prevalence for 

2009. Current asthma prevalence in adults ranged from 6.3% in Louisiana to 11.0% in Oregon.21

In addition to asthma prevalence information by state, the BRFSS has calculated asthma prevalence 

estimates for certain metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas for the years 2002-2009. Table 14

displays estimated lifetime and current asthma prevalence in adults for 180 areas in 2009. Out of the 

selected MSAs, current asthma prevalence in adults ranged from 3.2% in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 

TX to 15.3% in Rochester, NY.22

The BRFSS offers an optional module on asthma prevalence among children under 18 years of age. 

Adult respondents with one or more children in the household answer two questions about lifetime and 

current asthma prevalence for the child, if only one, or a randomly selected child, if two or more are 

reported. This module was introduced in 2001, but comparing estimates from before 2005 is not 

recommended as different sampling methods were used prior to that year. Unfortunately, not every state 

includes this module. 

Tables 15 and 16 display estimated state-specific lifetime and current asthma prevalence in children 

between 2006 and 2009. Figure 6 shows the estimated state-specific current asthma prevalence for 

2009. Current asthma prevalence in children ranged from 4.6% in Idaho to 13.9% in the District of 

Columbia.23

First-Listed Asthma Hospital Discharges

A first listed diagnosis is the diagnosis identified as the principal diagnosis or listed first on the medical 

record. Due to a change in the design of the survey, data from 1988-2006 is not directly comparable to 

that of earlier years. The hospital discharge rate for asthma increased dramatically from 1979 to 1988, 

remained stable in the early 1990s, and peaked at 511,000 discharges (19.5 per 10,000 population) in 

1995. During 2006, 444,000 discharges (14.9 per 10,000 population) were attributed to asthma. Between 

2003 and 2006 there was a 25% decrease in the hospitalization discharge rate for asthma in the United 

States.24

Table 17 delineates the trend in the number of hospital discharges and rates by sex from 1979 to 2006. 

Between 1995 and 2006 the number of hospital discharges decreased 13% overall, 16% in males and 

12% in females. In 2006, a total of 266,000 discharges were reported in females and 177,000 were 

reported in males.25

As shown in Table 18, between 1995 and 2006, hospital discharge rates for asthma decreased in all age 

groups except for those over 65 years of age. Unlike other chronic lung diseases, asthma discharges are 

very common among the pediatric population. Approximately 33% of the asthma discharges in 2006 

were in those under 15, although only 20.2% of the U.S. population was less than 15 years old. Figure 7

depicts this age-specific trend.26 
The trend in hospital discharges by race is delineated in Table 19. The 2006 discharge rate for asthma in 

blacks (29.3 per 10,000) was over 3 times higher than that seen in whites and 4.4 times higher than that 

seen in other races (9.6 and 6.7 per 10,000, respectively). These rates, however, should be interpreted 

with caution due to a large percentage of discharges for which race was not reported. Figure 8 displays 

this race-specific trend.27

Asthma Ambulatory Care Visits

Table 20 displays the trend in visits to physician offices, hospital outpatient departments and emergency 

departments in the United States from 1989-2006. In 2006 there were 10.6 million physician office 

visits, 1.2 million hospital outpatient department visits and almost 1.7 million emergency room visits 

due to asthma.28

Economic Cost of Asthma

From 2002 to 2007, the annual economic cost of asthma in the U.S. was $56.0 billion; direct health care 

costs consisted of $50.1 billion with indirect costs (lost productivity) contributing an additional $5.9 

billion.29

A study by the American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers found that the inactivated 

influenza vaccine is safe to administer to adults and children with asthma, including those with severe 

asthma.30 Influenza causes substantial morbidity in adults and children with asthma, and vaccination can 

prevent influenza and its complications. In 2009, 42.4% of children and 46.4% of adults with asthma 

received the influenza vaccine.31

 

Summary

After a long period of steady increase, evidence suggests that asthma mortality and health care 

utilization rates continue to plateau and/or decrease. Mortality figures due to asthma have been 

continuing to decline for the past 8 years. The number of deaths due to asthma in 2007 was 

approximately 26.0% lower than the number of deaths seen in 1999.32

Hospital discharges have been declining since 1995. The number of hospital discharges has decreased 

13% between 1995 and 2006 while the hospital discharge rate has declined 24% since it peaked at 19.5 

per 10,000 in 1995.33

Lifetime and attack prevalence rates have fluctuated over the past eleven years but have remained stable. 

The nine years of data available on current asthma followed a similar pattern before increasing in recent 

years. Future years of data from the revised National Health Interview Survey will show whether this is 

a trend or a limited change. 

However, asthma remains a major public health concern. In 2009, approximately 24.6 million 

Americans had asthma. In 2008, the condition accounted for an estimated 14.4 million lost school days 

in children and 14.2 million lost work days in adults.34 Asthma is a leading cause of activity limitation 

and costs our nation $56.0 billion in health care costs annually.35
GLOSSARY 

Prevalence: The proportion of existing cases of a particular condition, disease, or other 

occurrence (e.g., persons smoking) at a given time. 

Lifetime Prevalence: The proportion of cases that exist within a population at any point during a 

specified period of time. Therefore, respondents may not still have the condition 

in question. In this report: the proportion of people ever receiving a diagnosis of 

asthma from a health professional. 

Current Prevalence: The proportion of cases that exist within a population at a single point in time. In 

this report: the proportion of people who have ever received a diagnosis of asthma 

and still have the disease. 

Attack Prevalence: The proportion of attacks that occur within a population at a single point in time. 

In this report: the proportion of people who had one or more asthma attacks or 

episodes in the preceding year. This type of period prevalence estimate measures 

for active asthma. 

Crude Rate: Cases in a particular population quantity – e.g. per hundred. 

Age-Adjusted Rate: A figure that is statistically corrected to remove the distorting effect of age when 

comparing populations of different age structures. 

P value: The probability of observing a result as extreme as that observed solely to chance. 

If the p-value is less than or equal to 0.05, then there is no more than a 5% chance 

of seeing that result again, but if the p- value is greater than or equal to 0.05, then 

chance cannot be excluded as a likely explanation and the findings are said to be 

not significant at that level. 

Metropolitan SA: A group of counties with at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more 

inhabitants. 

Micropolitan SA: A group of counties with at least one urban cluster of at least 10,000 but less than 

50,000 inhabitants. 
Sources: 

 

1

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Surveillance for Asthma – United States, 1980-2004. Morbidity and 

Mortality Weekly Report. October 19, 2007; 56(SS08):1-14, 18-54. 2

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics Reports. Deaths: 

Final Data for 2007. May, 2010. Vol 58, No 19. 3

 Ibid. 

4

 Homa D et al. Asthma Mortality in U.S. Hispanics of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban Heritage, 1990-1995. American 

Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2000; 161:504-9. 5

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics Reports. Deaths: 

Final Data for 2007. May, 2010. Vol 58, No 19. 6

 Perry TT, Vargas PA, McCracken A, Jones SM. Underdiagnosed and Uncontrolled Asthma: Findings in Rural 

Schoolchildren from the Delta Region of Arkansas. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. October 2008; 101(4):375-

81. 

7

 Shalowitz MU, Sadowski LM, Kumar R, Weiss KB, Shannon JJ. Asthma Burden in a Citywide, Diverse Sample of 

Elementary Schoolchildren in Chicago. Ambulatory Pediatrics. July-August 2007; 7(4):271-7. 8

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey Raw 

Data, 1997-2009. Analysis performed by American Lung Association Research and Program Services using SPSS and 

SUDAAN software. 

9

 Ibid. 

10 Ibid. 

11 Ibid. 

12 Ibid. 

13 Ibid. 

14 Ibid. 

15 Ibid. 

16 Ibid. 

17 Ibid. 

18 Ibid. 

19 Ibid. 

20 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance 

Survey, 2000-2009. Analysis preformed by the American Lung Association Research and Program Services Division. 21 Ibid. 

22 Ibid. 

23 Ibid. 

24 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Hospital Discharge Survey, 

1979-2006. 2005 and 2006 unpublished data provided by special request to the NCHS. 

25 Ibid. 

26 Ibid. 

27 Ibid. 

28 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Ambulatory Medical Care 

Survey, 1992-2006. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 2006. 

29 Barnett SB, Nurmagambetov TA. Costs of Asthma in the United States: 2002-2007. Journal of Allergy and Clinical 

Immunology, 2011; 127(1):145-52. 30 American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers. The Safety of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine 

in Adults and Children with Asthma. New England Journal of Medicine. 2001; 345(21):1529-36. 31 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey Raw 

Data, 1997-2009. Analysis performed by American Lung Association Research and Program Services using SPSS and 

SUDAAN software. 

32 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics Reports. Deaths: 

Final Data for 2007. May, 2010. Vol 58, No 19. 33 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Hospital Discharge Survey, 

1995-2006. 2006 unpublished data provided by special request to the NCHS. 

34 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey Raw 

Data, 2009. Analysis performed by American Lung Association Research and Program Services using SPSS and SUDAAN 

software. 

35 Barnett SB, Nurmagambetov TA. Costs of Asthma in the United States: 2002-2007. Journal of Allergy and Clinical 

Immunology, 2011; 127(1):145-52. 
Year

Both 

Sexes Male Female

Both 

Sexes Male Female

Both 

Sexes Male Female

Both 

Sexes Male Female

1979 (2) 2,598 1,133 1,465 2,095 898 1,197 503 235 268 470 214 256

1980 2,891 1,292 1,599 2,291 1,008 1,283 600 284 316 557 260 297

1981 3,054 1,287 1,767 2,426 977 1,449 628 310 318 576 281 295

1982 3,154 1,314 1,840 2,450 983 1,467 704 331 373 647 301 346

1983 3,561 1,455 2,106 2,751 1,084 1,667 810 371 439 732 336 396

1984 3,564 1,467 2,097 2,779 1,106 1,673 785 361 424 701 312 389

1985 3,880 1,551 2,329 3,026 1,140 1,886 854 411 443 778 371 407

1986 3,955 1,584 2,371 3,036 1,178 1,858 919 406 513 828 360 468

1987 4,360 1,730 2,630 3,327 1,244 2,083 1,033 486 547 920 428 492

1988 4,597 1,822 2,775 3,473 1,299 2,174 1,124 523 601 1,012 460 552

1989 4,869 1,848 3,021 3,761 1,352 2,409 1,108 496 612 984 434 550

1990 4,819 1,885 2,934 3,696 1,358 2,338 1,123 527 596 986 460 526

1991 5,106 1,927 3,179 3,915 1,388 2,527 1,191 539 652 1,043 472 571

1992 4,964 1,869 3,095 3,789 1,362 2,427 1,175 507 668 1,036 433 603

1993 5,167 1,928 3,239 3,910 1,384 2,526 1,257 544 713 1,112 465 647

1994 5,487 2,101 3,386 4,134 1,492 2,642 1,353 609 744 1,186 525 661

1995 5,637 2,079 3,558 4,208 1,454 2,754 1,429 625 804 1,247 538 709

1996 5,667 2,075 3,592 4,110 1,426 2,684 1,557 649 908 1,325 540 785

1997 5,434 1,986 3,448 4,002 1,383 2,619 1,432 603 829 1,200 498 702

1998 5,438 2,000 3,438 3,947 1,366 2,581 1,491 634 857 1,290 536 754

1999 (3) 4,657 1,620 3,037 3,328 1,046 2,282 1,329 574 755 1,145 481 664

2000 4,487 1,632 2,855 3,144 1,057 2,087 1,343 575 768 1,158 481 677

2001 4,269 1,479 2,790 2,990 937 2,053 1,279 542 737 1,108 459 649

2002 4,261 1,580 2,681 3,014 1,017 1,997 1,247 563 684 1,096 497 599

2003 4,099 1,493 2,606 2,888 961 1,927 1,211 532 679 1,030 445 585

2004 3,816 1,386 2,430 2,658 851 1,807 1,158 535 623 1,008 455 553

2005 3,884 1,315 2,569 2,714 843 1,871 1,170 472 698 1,016 411 306

2006 3,613 1,296 2,317 2,497 805 1,692 1,116 491 625 957 423 534

2007 3,447 1,274 2,173 2,376 789 1,587 1,071 485 586 902 406 496

Notes: 

(2) Deaths from 1979-1998 are coded by the 9th revision of International Classification of Diseases, code 493. 

(3) Deaths from 1999-2007 are coded by the 10th revision of International Classification of Diseases, code J45-J46. 

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics Reports. Deaths: Final Data for 

1979-2007. 

(1) All races other than White. 

Table 1: Asthma - Number of Deaths by Race and Sex, 1979-1998, 1999-2007 

All Other (1)

Total White Total Black
Year

Both 

Sexes Male Female

Both 

Sexes Male Female

Both 

Sexes Male Female

Both 

Sexes Male Female

1979 (4) 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 2.0

1980 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.8 2.0 2.1 1.9 2.2 2.2 2.2

1981 1.0 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.9 2.1 2.2 1.9 2.3 2.4 2.1

1982 1.0 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.9 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.5

1983 1.2 1.1 1.3 0.9 0.9 1.0 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.8

1984 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.0 0.9 1.0 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.5 2.6

1985 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.0 0.9 1.2 2.5 2.6 2.3 2.8 3.0 2.7

1986 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.0 0.9 1.1 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.9 2.9 3.0

1987 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.1 1.0 1.2 2.9 2.9 2.8 3.2 3.3 3.2

1988 1.4 1.2 1.5 1.1 1.0 1.2 3.0 3.1 3.0 3.5 3.5 3.4

1989 1.4 1.2 1.6 1.2 1.0 1.3 2.8 2.8 2.9 3.3 3.2 3.3

1990 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.0 1.3 2.9 3.0 2.8 3.4 3.5 3.3

1991 1.5 1.3 1.6 1.2 1.0 1.4 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 3.5

1992 1.4 1.2 1.5 1.1 0.9 1.3 2.8 2.8 2.9 3.3 3.1 3.5

1993 1.4 1.3 1.6 1.2 1.0 1.3 2.9 2.8 3.0 3.5 3.3 3.7

1994 1.5 1.4 1.7 1.2 1.0 1.4 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.7 3.6 3.7

1995 1.5 1.3 1.7 1.3 1.0 1.5 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.8 3.6 3.9

1996 1.5 1.3 1.7 1.2 1.0 1.4 3.3 3.1 3.5 3.9 3.6 4.1

1997 1.4 1.2 1.6 1.1 1.0 1.3 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.5 3.2 3.6

1998 1.4 1.2 1.5 1.1 0.9 1.2 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.7 3.4 3.8

1999 (5) 1.7 1.4 2.0 1.4 1.0 1.7 3.4 3.3 3.5 3.9 3.6 4.2

2000 1.6 1.3 1.8 1.3 1.0 1.5 3.3 3.1 3.5 3.9 3.5 4.2

2001 1.5 1.2 1.7 1.2 0.9 1.5 3.0 2.8 3.2 3.6 3.2 3.8

2002 1.5 1.2 1.7 1.2 0.9 1.4 2.8 2.7 2.8 3.4 3.3 3.4

2003 1.4 1.0 1.8 1.2 0.8 1.6 2.2 2.0 2.4 2.7 2.4 2.9

2004 1.3 1.0 1.4 1.0 0.8 1.2 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.1

2005 1.3 1.0 1.5 1.0 0.7 1.3 2.5 2.2 2.7 3.0 2.7 3.3

2006 1.2 0.9 1.3 0.9 0.7 1.1 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.7 2.5 2.8

2007 1.1 0.9 1.2 0.9 0.7 1.0 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.5 2.5 2.6

Notes:

Total Black

(2) Rates for 1999-2007 are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. 

(3) All races other than White. 

(4) Deaths from 1979-1998 are coded by the 9th revision of International Classification of Diseases, code 493. 

(5) Deaths from 1999-2007 are coded by the 10th revision of International Classification of Diseases, code J45-J46. 

Table 2: Asthma - Age-Adjusted Death Rate per 100,000 population, by Race and Sex, 1979-1998, 1999-2007 (1,2)

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics Reports. Deaths: Final Data for 1979-

2007. 

(1) Rates for the years 1979-1998 are age-adjusted to the 1940 U.S. standard population. 

All Other (3)

Total White
Year/Sex Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate

Both Sexes

1999 4,657 1.7 320 1.7 4,324 1.7 3,011 1.4 1,134 4.1

2000 4,487 1.6 292 1.5 4,164 1.6 2,836 1.3 1,145 4.1

2001 4,269 1.5 274 1.4 3,976 1.5 2,717 1.2 1,092 3.6

2002 4,261 1.5 287 1.3 3,950 1.5 2,720 1.2 1,083 3.5

2003 4,099 1.4 299 1.3 3,786 1.4 2,589 1.3 1,019 2.8

2004 3,816 1.3 281 1.1 3,524 1.3 2,377 1.0 1,001 3.1

2005 3,884 1.3 248 1.0 3,626 1.3 2,475 1.0 1,002 3.1

2006 3,613 1.2 257 1.0 3,343 1.2 2,246 0.9 943 2.8

2007 3,447 1.1 239 0.8 3,207 1.1 2,151 0.9 893 2.6

Male

1999 1,620 1.4 119 1.2 1,495 1.4 930 1.0 474 3.7

2000 1,632 1.3 129 1.3 1,486 1.3 920 1.0 472 3.6

2001 1,479 1.2 103 1.0 1,365 1.2 834 0.9 450 3.3

2002 1,580 1.2 114 1.0 1,448 1.2 895 0.9 488 3.4

2003 1,493 1.1 131 1.1 1,356 1.2 831 0.9 439 2.5

2004 1,386 1.0 111 0.9 1,272 1.1 743 0.8 452 3.1

2005 1,315 1.0 106 0.9 1,205 1.0 743 0.7 403 2.7

2006 1,296 0.9 94 0.7 1,196 1.0 715 0.7 414 2.6

2007 1,274 0.9 109 0.7 1,164 0.9 686 0.7 402 2.5

Female

1999 3,037 2.0 201 2.0 2,829 2.0 2,081 1.7 660 4.3

2000 2,855 1.8 163 1.6 2,678 1.9 1,916 1.5 673 4.3

2001 2,790 1.7 171 1.7 2,611 1.8 1,883 1.4 642 3.9

2002 2,681 1.7 173 1.5 2,502 1.7 1,825 1.4 595 3.5

2003 2,606 1.6 168 1.4 2,430 1.6 1,758 1.7 580 3.0

2004 2,430 1.4 170 1.4 2,252 1.5 1,634 1.2 549 3.1

2005 2,569 1.5 142 1.1 2,421 1.6 1,732 1.3 599 3.4

2006 2,317 1.3 163 1.2 2,147 1.4 1,531 1.1 529 2.9

2007 2,173 1.2 239 0.9 2,043 1.3 1,465 1.1 491 2.6

Notes: 

Table 3: Asthma - Number of Deaths and Age-Adjusted Death Rate per 100,000 population by Ethnic Origin and 

Sex, 1999-2007 (1,2) 

(1) Number of deaths are coded by the 10th revision of International Classification of Diseases, code J45-J46. 

(2) Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. 

(3) Includes races other than White and Black. 

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics Reports. Deaths: Final Data for 

1999-2007. 

Total Hispanic Non-Hispanic Non-Hispanic Black (3) Non-Hispanic White
Year Total <1 1-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+

1979 (1) 2,598 5 19 39 99 111 157 282 502 695 499 190

1980 2,891 8 21 61 105 130 145 309 529 765 596 222

1981 3,054 3 12 72 112 155 178 308 607 803 575 229

1982 3,154 8 26 70 162 169 176 341 582 793 593 234

1983 3,561 5 28 78 144 186 231 384 686 836 693 290

1984 3,564 10 17 79 132 159 227 355 674 905 702 303

1985 3,880 6 21 98 156 182 231 378 755 936 785 332

1986 3,955 13 17 92 166 197 251 356 688 982 843 350

1987 4,360 4 19 101 181 199 341 443 709 1,081 873 408

1988 4,597 7 19 93 162 231 343 440 785 1,097 991 429

1989 4,869 6 26 95 148 256 346 472 743 1,208 1,094 473

1990 4,819 12 24 102 160 237 332 502 738 1,125 1,074 512

1991 5,106 5 30 106 183 280 386 510 737 1,155 1,161 553

1992 4,964 9 38 88 168 232 373 495 692 1,164 1,097 608

1993 5,167 6 32 118 186 240 405 508 738 1,196 1,114 623

1994 5,487 5 24 118 215 304 421 597 780 1,223 1,155 644

1995 5,637 13 21 130 224 298 498 663 785 1,147 1,195 663

1996 5,667 8 34 149 214 288 496 649 816 1,095 1,177 739

1997 5,434 5 30 119 174 298 489 636 757 992 1,183 751

1998 5,438 7 33 131 214 277 487 647 673 972 1,190 807

1999 (2) 4,657 5 27 126 182 262 447 607 583 773 925 720

2000 4,487 8 32 129 167 249 458 614 540 734 849 707

2001 4,269 10 31 99 140 233 455 603 553 634 802 709

2002 4,261 4 43 123 169 235 472 608 536 583 812 675

2003 4,099 7 37 110 158 227 411 632 562 532 752 671

2004 3,816 7 29 105 159 197 376 562 520 504 673 684

2005 3,884 4 37 97 131 207 369 595 510 475 709 740

2006 3,613 6 26 99 135 194 373 566 492 443 626 653

2007 3,447 4 41 107 133 201 320 538 461 412 569 659

Notes:

Table 4: Asthma - Number of Deaths in 10-Year Age Groups, 1979-1998, 1999-2007 

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics Reports. Deaths: Final Data for 1979

2007. 

(1) Deaths from 1979-1998 are coded by the 9th revision of International Classification of Diseases, 493. 

(2) Deaths from 1999-2007 are coded by the 10th revision of International Classification of Diseases, J45-J46. 
Year Total <1 1-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+

 1979 (1) 1.2 --- --- 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.2 2.3 4.5 6.6 8.6

1980 1.3 --- 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 1.4 2.4 4.9 7.7 9.9

1981 1.3 --- --- 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.4 2.8 5.1 7.2 9.7

1982 1.4 --- 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.5 2.6 4.9 7.2 9.6

1983 1.5 --- 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.8 1.7 3.1 5.1 8.2 11.5

1984 1.5 --- --- 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.6 3.0 5.4 8.1 11.7

1985 1.6 --- 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.7 1.7 3.4 5.6 8.8 12.4

1986 1.6 --- --- 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.8 1.6 3.1 5.7 9.2 12.8

1987 1.8 --- --- 0.3 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.9 3.3 6.2 9.3 14.5

1988 1.9 --- --- 0.3 0.4 0.5 1.0 1.8 3.6 6.2 10.3 14.9

1989 2.0 --- 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 1.0 1.9 3.5 6.8 11.1 15.9

1990 1.9 --- 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.9 2.0 3.5 6.2 10.7 16.9

1991 2.0 --- 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.0 2.0 3.5 6.3 11.3 17.5

1992 1.9 --- 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.9 1.8 3.3 6.3 10.4 18.7

1993 2.0 --- 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.6 1.0 1.8 3.5 6.4 10.4 18.3

1994 2.1 --- 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.7 1.0 2.0 3.7 6.5 10.6 18.3

1995 2.1 --- 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.7 1.2 2.1 3.7 6.1 10.7 18.3

1996 2.1 --- 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.7 1.1 2.0 3.8 5.9 10.3 19.6

1997 2.0 --- 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.1 1.9 3.5 5.4 10.1 19.4

1998 2.0 --- 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.7 1.1 1.9 3.0 5.3 10.0 19.9

 1999 (2) 1.7 --- 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.7 2.5 4.2 7.6 17.2

2000 1.6 --- 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.0 1.7 2.3 4.0 6.9 16.5

2001 1.5 --- 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 1.0 1.5 2.2 3.5 6.4 16.1

2002 1.5 --- 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.6 1.1 1.5 2.0 3.2 6.4 14.7

2003 1.4 --- 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.9 1.5 2.0 2.9 5.8 14.2

2004 1.3 --- 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.9 1.4 1.8 2.7 5.2 14.1

2005 1.3 --- 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.4 1.7 2.5 5.4 14.5

2006 1.2 --- 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.9 1.3 1.6 2.3 4.8 12.3

2007 1.1 --- 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.2 1.4 2.1 4.4 12.0

Notes:

--- Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision (Estimate based on fewer than 20 deaths).

Table 5: Asthma - Mortality Rate per 100,000 population, by 10-Year Age Groups 1979-1998, 1999-2007 

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics Reports. Deaths: Final Data for 

1979-2007. 

(1) Deaths from 1979-1998 are coded by the 9th revision of International Classification of Diseases, 493. 

(2) Deaths from 1999-2007 are coded by the 10th revision of International Classification of Diseases, J45-J46. 
Number Rate CI of Rate (2) Number Rate CI of Rate (2) Number Rate CI of Rate (2) Number Rate CI of Rate (2)

Total 30,821,125 110.6 (106.7-114.4) 29,767,541 104.1 (100.7-107.5) 30,189,450 104.7 (100.8-108.6) 32,620,534 112.0 (108.3-115.7)

Age

<5 1,451,929 73.2 (62.8-83.6) 1,490,625 75.1 (64.9-85.3) 1,454,498 72.8 (63.1-82.5) 1,741,465 85.8 (74.7-96.9)

5-17 7,442,217 140.0 (131.4-148.7) 7,580,355 142.7 (134.0-151.5) 7,435,318 140.1 (131.3-148.9) 7,545,500 142.2 (133.6-150.8)

<18 8,894,146 121.9 (114.8-129.0) 9,070,980 124.3 (117.4-131.2) 8,889,816 121.7 (114.6-128.8) 9,286,965 126.6 (119.6-133.6)

18-44 12,453,741 115.2 (108.8-121.6) 11,204,219 101.4 (95.8-106.9) 10,959,122 99.3 (93.3-105.2) 12,322,282 111.6 (105.3-117.9)

45-64 6,836,046 105.7 (98.8-112.7) 6,721,660 98.5 (91.7-105.3) 6,972,948 99.4 (92.2-106.5) 7,555,487 104.5 (97.7-111.3)

65+ 2,637,162 79.8 (71.9-87.6) 2,770,682 80.9 (72.8-89.0) 3,367,564 97.4 (88.2-106.5) 3,455,800 98.6 (89.9-107.3)

>18 21,926,949 106.5 (102.1-111.0) 20,696,561 97.1 (93.5-100.8) 21,299,634 99.0 (94.8-103.2) 23,333,569 107.1 (102.8-111.4)

Sex

Male 14,340,497 105.4 (100.3-110.5) 13,503,561 96.7 (92.1-101.4) 14,319,905 101.6 (96.3-106.9) 14,628,489 102.7 (97.6-107.8)

Female 16,480,628 115.5 (110.3-120.6) 16,263,980 111.1 (106.3-115.9) 15,869,545 107.7 (102.6-112.8) 17,992,044 121.0 (116.4-125.6)

Race

White 23,921,769 107.3 (103.0-111.7) 23,876,627 101.0 (97.3-104.8) 24,045,954 101.5 (97.4-105.6) 25,986,225 108.7 (104.7-112.7)

<5 832,762 55.9 (45.2-66.6) 933,382 59.7 (50.0-69.3) 1,136,552 72.4 (55.4-76.6) 1,107,802 69.7 (59.5-80.1)

5-17 5,359,421 132.6 (123.1-142.1) 5,627,212 134.6 (124.9-144.3) 5,352,774 129.0 (122.2-140.6) 5,569,421 134.0 (124.3-143.7)

18-44 9,721,553 115.1 (107.8-122.5) 9,122,405 101.3 (94.9-107.6) 8,752,791 97.7 (90.8-104.6) 9,857,252 110.1 (103.1-117.1)

45-64 5,682,916 105.2 (97.8-112.6) 5,748,988 98.7 (91.3-106.1) 5,861,424 98.7 (90.9-106.5) 6,454,928 105.5 (98.2-112.8)

65+ 2,325,117 79.9 (71.6-88.3) 2,444,640 80.1 (71.3-88.9) 2,942,413 95.4 (85.8-105.0) 2,996,822 96.8 (87.3-106.3)

Black 4,850,540 138.3 (127.2-149.4) 4,712,858 129.6 (120.1-139.1) 4,948,075 133.4 (122.8-144.0) 5,110,214 137.4 (127.2-147.6)

<5 431,731 145.9 (112.5-179.4) 491,459 150.4 (113.2-187.6) 395,616 119.9 (89.7-150.7) 528,218 158.6 (121.2-196.0)

5-17 1,506,656 183.5 (159.0-208.0) 1,570,114 184.8 (161.8-207.8) 1,681,349 196.9 (172.0-221.8) 1,554,894 182.7 (161.1-204.3)

18-44 1,881,512 131.4 (112.8-149.9) 1,685,252 117.3 (102.3-132.3) 1,732,061 118.9 (102.2-135.6) 1,794,574 123.8 (107.6-140.0)

45-64 794,872 116.3 (94.6-138.0) 735,785 99.7 (81.1-118.4) 818,936 107.0 (87.4-126.6) 880,522 111.6 (92.4-130.8)

65+ 235,769 85.6 (58.9-112.4) 230,248 80.7 (55.7-105.7) 300,113 104.2 (77.3-131.1) 352,006 118.7 (91.9-145.5)

Number Rate CI of Rate (2) Number Rate CI of Rate (2) Number Rate CI of Rate (2) Number Rate CI of Rate (2)

Total 34,131,580 116.2 (111.6-120.8) 34,007,590 114.5 (110.0-119.1) 38,430,376 128.5 (124.0-133.0) 39,930,124 132.5 (127.7-137.3)

Age

<5 1,521,299 74.5 (63.4-85.7) 1,636,267 79.5 (66.2-92.8) 1,498,621 72.0 (58.9-85.2) 1,668,461 78.9 (65.6-92.3)

5-17 8 354 541 157 4 (146 2-168 6) 7 968 828 149 9 (138 9-161 0) 8 691 354 163 8 (152 4-175 2) 8 527 325 161 3 (150 7-171 9)

2006 2007 2008 2009

Table 6: Asthma - Number of People Ever Told by a Health Professional that they had Asthma and Prevalence Rate per 1,000 population, by 

Age, Sex and Race, 1999-2009 (Lifetime Prevalence) (1) 

2002 2003 2004 2005

5-17 8,354,541 157.4 (146.2-168.6) 7,968,828 149.9 (138.9-161.0) 8,691,354 163.8 (152.4-175.2) 8,527,325 161.3 (150.7-171.9)

<18 9,875,840 134.4 (125.9-142.8) 9,605,095 130.3 (121.6-138.9) 10,189,975 138.0 (128.7-147.2) 10,195,786 137.8 (129.4-146.2)

18-44 12,668,079 114.8 (107.4-122.1) 12,995,928 117.2 (109.6-124.8) 14,891,564 134.6 (126.6-142.6) 29,734,338 130.8 (125.3-136.3)

45-64 7,806,115 105.2 (96.9-113.5) 7,895,449 103.7 (95.7-111.7) 9,265,710 119.7 (110.8-128.6) 15,743,442 142.7 (134.6-150.7)

65+ 3,781,546 106.0 (95.8-116.2) 3,511,118 97.1 (85.6-108.6) 4,083,127 109.8 (99.8-119.8) 9,706,421 122.6 (114.4-130.7)

>18 24,255,740 110.1 (105.0-115.2) 24,402,495 109.3 (104.4-114.3) 28,240,401 125.4 (120.0-130.8) 4,284,475 113.2 (101.6-124.9)

Sex

Male 15,952,818 110.9 (104.7-117.2) 15,932,657 109.6 (103.4-115.7) 17,867,295 122.0 (115.3-128.6) 18,521,131 125.4 (118.6-132.2)

Female 18,178,762 121.2 (114.6-127.9) 18,074,933 119.3 (113.0-125.7) 20,563,061 134.8 (128.9-140.6) 21,408,993 139.3 (132.4-146.2)

Race

White 27,036,551 113.7 (108.5-118.9) 26,798,402 112.1 (107.0-117.2) 30,025,619 124.7 (119.7-129.7) 31,277,958 129.0 (123.6-134.4)

<5 1,125,619 71.4 (58.9-83.9) 954,773 61.2 (47.9-74.5) 984,128 61.6 (46.6-76.7) 1,032,703 63.8 (49.7-77.9)

5-17 6,227,995 151.1 (137.8-164.3) 5,518,513 134.7 (122.7-146.6) 6,017,946 147.7 (135.7-159.6) 5,980,779 146.5 (135.0-158.0)

18-44 9,993,077 114.1 (105.3-122.8) 10,577,772 120.5 (111.7-129.3) 11,892,854 136.1 (126.8-145.3) 12,573,455 144.7 (135.3-154.1)

45-64 6,446,946 103.8 (94.6-113.1) 6,652,131 105.4 (96.2-114.5) 7,655,811 118.9 (109.1-128.7) 7,952,842 121.2 (112.1-130.3)

65+ 3,242,914 104.4 (93.3-115.5) 3,095,213 98.0 (85.3-110.7) 3,474,880 107.5 (96.7-118.3) 3,738,179 113.8 (101.0-126.5)

Black 5,342,756 136.6 (125.1-148.1) 5,248,110 133.8 (121.6-146.1) 6,353,327 160.9 (148.2-173.7) 6,671,058 165.0 (151.6-178.4)

<5 351,576 102.2 (70.6-133.9) 544,230 156.5 (114.6-198.4) 384,767 110.2 (80.0-140.4) 570,883 161.6 (119.2-203.9)

5-17 1,707,643 192.7 (166.9-218.4) 1,855,699 210.6 (185.7-235.4) 2,192,429 252.3 (220.8-283.9 2,079,850 238.4 (211.9-264.8)

18-44 1,939,503 126.0 (109.1-143.0) 1,681,732 110.6 (92.4-128.7) 2,228,770 145.8 (125.8-165.8) 2,415,768 154.4 (134.5-174.3)

45-64 938,301 114.3 (93.2-135.3) 848,297 98.7 (80.5-117.0) 1,154,966 131.3 (107.1-155.4) 1,262,456 137.8 (115.5-160.1)

65+ 405,733 126.1 (99.3-152.9) 318,152 101.8 (74.6-129.0) 392,395 122.3 (93.8-150.9) 342,101 102.0 (78.4-125.5)

Notes:

(1) Lifetime prevalence is defined as answering yes to "Have you EVER been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had asthma?"

(2) 95% Confidence Interval.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 1999-2009. Analysis by the American Lung Assocation 

Research and Program Services Division using SPSS and SUDAAN software.
Year Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number 

1982 7,899,000 34.8 * * * * 2,513,000 40.1 2,749,000 29.0 1,603,000 1983 8,787,000 38.3 * * * * 2,828,000 45.2 3,487,000 36.1 1,529,000 1984 8,388,000 36.2 * * * * 2,658,000 42.5 3,152,000 32.1 1,485,000 1985 8,612,000 36.8 * * * * 2,997,000 47.8 3,323,000 33.4 1,255,000 1986 9,690,000 41.0 * * * * 3,223,000 51.1 3,672,000 36.4 1,622,000 1987 9,565,000 40.1 * * * * 3,323,000 52.5 3,522,000 34.5 1,633,000 1988 9,934,000 41.2 * * * * 3,171,000 49.9 3,989,000 38.7 1,587,000 1989 11,621,000 47.7 * * * * 3,901,000 61.0 4,302,000 41.3 1,914,000 1990 10,311,000 41.9 * * * * 3,725,000 57.6 3,703,000 35.2 1,800,000 1991 11,735,000 47.2 * * * * 4,094,000 62.5 4,594,000 43.4 1,921,000 1992 12,375,000 49.2 * * * * 4,218,000 63.4 4,748,000 44.9 2,183,000 1993 13,074,000 51.4 * * * * 4,830,000 71.6 4,495,000 42.5 2,242,000 1994 14,562,000 56.1 * * * * 4,837,000 69.1 5,598,000 51.7 2,561,000 1995 14,878,000 56.8 * * * * 5,294,000 74.9 5,577,000 51.6 2,754,000 1996 14,596,000 55.2 * * * * 4,429,000 62.0 6,141,000 56.9 2,581,000 2001 20,280,603 73.4 1,127,711 57.1 5,192,266 98.1 6,319,977 87.0 7,796,024 71.9 4,207,483 2002 20,025,716 71.8 1,180,664 59.5 4,882,214 91.9 6,062,878 83.1 7,437,526 68.8 4,591,985 2003 19,836,001 69.4 1,177,472 59.3 5,035,963 94.8 6,213,435 85.1 6,972,303 63.1 4,678,034 2004 20,544,836 71.3 1,119,656 56.0 5,067,050 95.5 6,186,706 84.7 7,058,327 63.9 4,871,010 2005 22,227,378 76.3 1,371,199 67.5 5,159,596 97.2 6,530,795 89.0 7,745,701 70.1 5,280,703 2006 22,875,985 77.9 1,177,912 57.7 5,641,460 106.3 6,819,372 92.8 7,990,497 72.4 5,575,548 2007 22,879,141 77.1 1,395,164 67.8 5,307,438 99.9 6,702,602 90.9 7,996,454 72.1 5,475,500 2008 23,317,502 78.0 1,276,343 61.4 5,676,458 107.0 6,952,801 94.1 7,944,927 71.8 5,765,100 2009 24,566,689 81.5 1,332,320 63.0 5,778,750 109.3 7,111,070 96.1 8,367,657 75.8 6,181,748 

18-44 45-64 

Notes: * Data for these age groups were not calculated. (1) Due to rounding, numbers across may not sum up to totals. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 1999-2009. Analysis by the American Lung AServices Division using SPSS and SUDAAN software. (2) With the revision of the National Health Interview Survey in 1997, the question "During the past 12 months, did anyone in the family have asthma?" was eliminated and was replabeen told by a doctor or other health professional that you had asthma?" (Table 6) and "During the past 12 months, have you had an episode of asthma or asthma attack?" (Table 10with the revised questions, "Do you still have asthma?" was added in 2001- reinstating a measure of current prevalence. However, data between 1982 and 1996 should not be com

Table 7: Asthma - Number of Conditions and Prevalence Rate per 1,000 population by Age, 1982-1996, 2001-2009 (Current Prevale

All Ages Under 5 5-17 <18
Year Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate 

1982 3,994,000 36.5 * * * * 3,906,000 33.2 * * 

1983 3,818,000 34.5 * * * * 4,968,000 41.9 * * 

1984 3,924,000 35.1 * * * * 4,464,000 37.3 * * 

1985 3,864,000 34.2 * * * * 4,748,000 39.3 * * 

1986 4,670,000 40.8 * * * * 5,019,000 41.1 * * 

1987 4,609,000 39.9 * * * * 4,956,000 40.3 * * 

1988 4,650,000 39.9 * * * * 5,285,000 42.5 * * 

1989 5,593,000 47.4 * * * * 6,028,000 48.0 * * 

1990 4,741,000 39.7 * * * * 5,570,000 44.0 * * 

1991 5,724,000 47.4 * * * * 6,011,000 47.0 * * 

1992 5,516,000 45.1 * * * * 6,859,000 53.1 * * 

1993 5,946,000 48.1 * * * * 7,127,000 54.6 * * 

1994 6,542,000 51.7 * * * * 8,019,000 60.2 * * 

1995 6,687,000 52.4 * * * * 8,190,000 61.0 * * 

1996 5,751,000 44.4 * * * * 8,845,000 65.3 * * 

2001 8,579,722 63.6 3,679,050 99.0 4,900,672 50.1 11,700,881 82.6 2,640,927 74.4 2002 8,461,150 62.6 3,520,764 94.4 4,940,386 50.0 11,564,566 81.0 2,542,114 71.3 2003 8,212,724 58.8 3,548,147 95.1 4,664,577 45.6 11,623,277 79.4 2,665,288 74.7 2004 8,937,331 63.4 3,789,642 101.5 5,147,689 49.7 11,607,505 78.8 2,397,064 67.1 2005 9,092,310 63.8 3,744,508 99.8 5,347,802 51.0 13,135,068 88.3 2,786,287 77.7 2006 10,026,373 69.7 4,122,206 109.7 5,904,167 55.6 12,849,612 85.7 2,697,166 75.1 2007 9,484,900 65.2 3,659,782 97.4 5,825,118 54.1 13,394,241 88.4 3,042,820 84.7 2008 10,410,894 71.1 4,293,261 114.3 6,117,633 56.3 12,906,608 84.6 2,659,540 74.0 2009 10,325,353 69.9 4,267,576 112.8 6,057,777 55.1 14,241,336 92.7 2,843,494 78.6 

Notes: 

All Ages Under 18 

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 1999-2009. Analysis by the American LProgram Services Division using SPSS and SUDAAN software.(1) With the revision of the National Health Interview Survey in 1997, the question "During the past 12 months, did anyone in the family have asthma?" was eliminated and was "Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had asthma?" (Table 6) and "During the past 12 months, have you had an episode of asthma or asththe information gap resulting with the revised questions, "Do you still have asthma?" was added in 2001- reinstating a measure of current prevalence. However, data between compared to 2001-2009 estimates.

Table 8: Asthma - Number of Conditions and Prevalence Rate per 1,000 population by Sex, 1982-1996, 2001-2009 (Current Prev

Male Female

All Ages Under 18 18 and Over
Year Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate

1982 6,711,000 34.6 * * * * * * 1,423,000 36.5 895,000 39.0

1983 7,412,000 37.7 * * * * * * 1,367,000 35.0 848,000 36.2

1984 7,296,000 36.9 * * * * * * 1,295,000 33.1 1,019,000 42.6

1985 7,425,000 37.2 * * * * * * 1,121,000 28.7 932,000 38.1

1986 8,190,000 40.9 * * * * * * 1,451,000 37.2 981,000 39.6

1987 8,126,000 40.3 * * * * * * 1,463,000 37.4 987,000 38.8

1988 8,101,000 39.9 * * * * * * 1,327,000 33.5 1,046,000 40.5

1989 9,675,000 47.1 * * * * * * 1,743,000 43.6 1,313,000 49.9

1990 8,544,000 41.3 * * * * * * 1,585,000 39.3 926,000 34.6

1991 9,660,000 46.4 * * * * * * 1,689,000 41.6 1,013,000 37.2

1992 10,309,000 49.2 * * * * * * 1,900,000 45.5 1,068,000 38.8

1993 10,616,000 50.2 * * * * * * 1,904,000 44.5 1,374,000 49.2

1994 12,052,000 56.2 * * * * * * 2,258,000 52.3 1,441,000 51.9

1995 12,198,000 56.2 * * * * * * 2,323,000 52.5 1,041,000 37.0

1996 11,764,000 53.5 * * * * * * 2,168,000 47.4 1,295,000 45.3

2001 15,897,376 71.9 689,084 46.3 3,836,665 95.6 6,209,214 73.3 3,491,749 66.6 1,670,664 57.7

2002 15,475,067 69.4 681,148 45.7 3,515,172 87.0 5,806,930 68.8 3,753,208 69.5 1,718,609 59.1

2003 15,764,764 66.7 712,084 45.5 3,582,880 85.7 5,637,921 62.6 4,085,667 70.1 1,746,212 57.2

2004 16,390,255 69.2 782,879 49.9 3,709,265 89.4 5,604,879 62.6 4,120,743 69.4 2,172,489 70.5

2005 17,594,734 73.6 822,609 51.8 3,477,676 91.1 6,112,174 68.2 4,557,893 74.5 2,314,382 74.8

2006 18,102,518 76.1 842,705 53.5 4,170,650 101.2 6,411,485 73.2 4,564,948 73.5 2,112,730 68.0

2007 17,818,348 74.5 801,099 51.3 3,608,489 88.1 6,417,722 73.1 4,616,492 73.1 2,374,546 75.2

2008 17,922,870 74.4 805,346 50.4 3,838,544 94.2 6,335,706 72.5 4,629,422 71.9 2,313,852 71.6

2009 18,919,628 78.1 775,660 47.9 3,914,797 95.9 6,700,247 77.1 4,977,889 75.9 2,551,035 77.6

Year Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate

1982 1,055,000 39.2 * * * * * * 156,000 37.2* 103,000 48.7*

1983 1,230,000 45.1 * * * * * * 150,000 35.5* 95,000 44.5*

1984 965 000 34 8 * * * * * * 153 000 35 9* 62 000 28 4*

Black

All Ages Under 5 5-17 18-44 45-64 65+

Table 9: Asthma - Number of Conditions and Prevalence Rate per 1,000 population by Race and Age, 1982-1996, 2001-2009 (Current

Prevalence) (1) 

White

All Ages Under 5 5-17 18-44 45-64 65+

1984 965,000 34.8 * * * * * * 153,000 35.9* 62,000 28.4*

1985 1,119,000 39.8 * * * * * * 122,000 27.5 84,000 37.2*

1986 1,212,000 42.5 * * * * * * 164,000 36.5 146,000 63.5*

1987 1,281,000 44.3 * * * * * * 148,000 32.5 100,000 42.5*

1988 1,631,000 55.5 * * * * * * 225,000 48.5 105,000 43.7*

1989 1,586,000 53.1 * * * * * * 112,000 23.8* 170,000 69.3

1990 1,414,000 46.6 * * * * * * 180,000 37.6 127,000 50.7*

1991 1,740,000 56.3 * * * * * * 195,000 40.1 83,000 32.4*

1992 1,787,000 56.8 * * * * * * 249,000 49.9 145,000 55.3*

1993 1,967,000 61.4 * * * * * * 315,000 61.3 98,000 36.7*

1994 1,861,000 56.3 * * * * * * 255,000 49.7 111,000 44.0*

1995 2,217,000 67.7 * * * * * * 313,000 60.0 178,000 70.1*

1996 2,310,000 69.6 * * * * * * 275,000 50.7* 109,000 41.7*

2001 3,053,514 88.2 323,209 109.7 960,289 116.9 1,089,907 76.6 488,195 74.8 191,914 70.9

2002 3,355,658 95.7 373,140 126.1 1,030,164 125.5 1,201,855 83.9 586,386 85.8 164,113 59.6

2003 3,369,723 92.7 408,342 125.0 1,180,065 138.9 122,577 78.2 503,141 68.2 155,598 54.5

2004 3,478,451 94.2 292,406 88.6 1,222,293 143.2 1,205,919 82.8 547,399 71.5 210,434 73.0

2005 3,721,281 100.1 469,857 141.1 1,099,549 129.2 1,291,843 89.1 587,452 74.5 272,580 91.9

2006 3,685,130 94.2 308,660 89.7 1,261,526 142.3 1,208,699 78.6 624,522 76.0 281,723 87.6

2007 4,045,683 103.2 496,932 142.9 1,403,745 159.3 1,205,631 79.3 689,291 80.2 250,084 80.0

2008 4,157,754 105.3 348,345 99.8 1,542,877 177.6 1,149,238 75.2 841,223 95.6 276,071 86.1

2009 4,509,125 111.5 501,832 142.0 1,562,485 179.1 1,335,096 85.3 871,405 95.1 238,307 71.0

Notes: 

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 1999-2009. Analysis by the American Lung 

Assocation Research and Program Services Division using SPSS and SUDAAN software. 

* Estimate for which the numerator has a relative standard error of more than 30%. 

(1) With the revision of the National Health Interview Survey in 1997, the question "During the past 12 months, did anyone in the family have asthma?" was eliminated and was replaced 

with two questions: "Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had asthma?" (Table 6) and "During the past 12 months, have you had an episode of 

asthma or asthma attack?" (Table 10). Realizing the information gap resulting with the revised questions, "Do you still have asthma?" was added in 2001- reinstating a measure of current 

prevalence. However, data between 1982 and 1996 should not be compared to 2001-2009 estimates. 
Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate

Total 10,488,284 38.6 10,979,222 40.1 11,986,059 43.4 11,986,059 43.4 11,908,191 42.7 11,045,888 38.6

Age

<5 825,304 42.1 853,688 43.5 925,924 46.9 925,924 46.9 957,613 48.3 838,226 42.2

5-17 2,973,538 56.7 3,144,009 59.6 3,230,542 61.1 3,230,542 61.1 3,239,335 61.0 3,136,594 59.1

<18 3,798,842 52.7 3,997,697 55.3 4,156,466 57.2 4,156,466 57.2 4,196,948 57.5 3,974,820 54.5

18-44 4,021,816 37.1 3,865,362 35.6 4,621,288 42.6 4,621,288 42.6 4,353,083 40.3 3,775,135 34.2

45-64 1,950,980 33.3 2,187,430 36.1 2,347,541 37.5 2,347,541 37.5 2,387,972 36.9 2,528,134 37.0

65+ 716,646 22.1 928,733 28.4 860,764 26.2 860,764 26.2 970,188 35.7 767,799 22.4

>18 6,689,442 33.5 6,981,525 34.6 7,829,593 38.4 7,829,593 38.4 7,711,243 37.5 7,071,068 33.2

Sex

Male 4,310,426 32.5 4,566,516 34.2 4,894,372 36.3 4,894,372 36.3 4,862,958 35.7 4,433,896 31.8

Female 6,177,858 44.4 6,412,706 45.7 7,091,687 50.1 7,091,687 50.1 7,045,233 49.4 6,611,992 45.2

Race

White 8,225,725 37.4 8,574,362 39.2 9,316,903 42.2 9,316,903 42.2 9,135,316 41.0 8,700,764 36.8

<5 542,560 36.5 556,163 38.3 585,966 39.4 585,966 39.4 563,698 37.8 510,295 32.6

5-17 2,144,632 53.1 2,221,117 55.7 2,388,686 59.5 2,388,686 59.5 2,340,836 57.9 2,254,002 53.9

18-44 3,265,910 37.8 3,232,200 38.0 3,678,584 43.5 3,678,584 43.5 3,454,845 40.9 3,034,374 33.7

45-64 1,669,630 33.7 1,790,264 35.3 1,946,520 37.1 1,946,520 37.1 1,928,267 35.7 2,210,594 37.9

65+ 602,993 21.0 774,618 26.8 717,147 24.8 717,147 24.8 847,670 29.1 691,499 22.7

Black 1,535,360 45.5 1,631,233 47.6 1,928,640 55.7 1,928,640 55.7 1,974,247 56.3 1,905,572 52.4

<5 218,657 76.0 193,908 66.2 240,243 81.5 240,243 81.5 282,694 95.6 284,424 87.1

5-17 592,920 72.6 663,850 80.4 633,474 77.1 633,474 77.1 664,074 80.9 683,115 80.4

18-44 495,630 35.3 401,595 28.4 670,130 47.1 670,130 47.1 608,292 42.5 624,012 43.4

45-64 151,304 25.2 278,686 44.4 271,703 41.6 271,703 41.6 320,550 46.9 269,789 36.6

65+ 76,849 29.0 93,194 34.7 113,090 41.8 113,090 41.8 98,637 35.8 44,232 15.5

Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate

Total 11,684,355 40.5 12,233,688 42.0 12,443,111 42.4 12,308,749 41.5 12,726,197 42.6 12,823,621 42.6

Age

<5 781,424 39.1 893,310 44.0 923,306 45.2 850,544 41.3 848,244 40.8 954,936 45.2

5-17 3,193,643 60.2 2,922,723 55.1 3,147,874 59.3 2,976,960 56.0 3,287,958 62.0 3,101,697 58.7

<18 3,975,067 54.4 3,816,033 52.0 4,071,180 55.4 3,827,504 51.9 4,136,202 56.0 4,056,633 54.8

18-44 3,877,444 35.1 4,538,617 41.1 4,133,895 37.4 4,289,594 38.7 4,302,711 38.9 8,766,988 38.6

45-64 2,743,583 39.1 2,814,887 38.9 3,225,412 43.5 2,957,884 38.8 3,201,220 41.3 4,484,011 40.6

65+ 1,088,261 31.5 1,064,151 30.4 1,012,624 28.4 1,233,767 34.1 1,086,064 29.2 3,192,957 40.3

>18 7,709,288 35.8 8,417,655 38.7 8,371,931 38.0 8,481,245 38.0 8,589,995 38.1 1,090,020 28.8

Sex

Male 5,164,431 36.7 4,833,535 33.9 4,958,737 34.5 4,858,810 33.4 5,418,404 37.0 5,198,543 35.2

Female 6,519,924 44.3 7,400,153 49.8 7,484,374 49.9 7,449,939 49.2 7,307,793 47.9 7,625,078 49.6

Race

White 9,282,163 39.2 9,829,145 41.1 9,894,621 41.6 9,628,157 40.3 9,735,407 40.4 9,811,378 40.5

<5 557,772 35.5 540,648 34.0 682,037 43.3 508,885 32.6 547,288 34.3 620,090 38.3

5-17 23,414,442 56.4 2,245,862 54.0 2,307,950 56.0 2,107,139 51.4 2,215,470 54.4 2,069,829 50.7

18-44 3,112,209 34.8 3,647,258 40.7 3,340,080 38.1 3,406,015 38.8 3,472,952 39.7 3,591,903 41.3

45-64 2,323,470 39.1 2,498,698 40.9 2,727,915 43.9 2,503,344 39.6 2,556,822 39.7 2,601,369 39.6

65+ 947,270 30.7 896,679 29.0 836,639 26.9 1,102,774 34.9 942,875 29.2 928,187 28.2

Black 2,031,045 55.0 1,821,757 49.0 1,921,835 49.1 2,081,926 53.1 2,310,002 58.5 2,284,600 56.5

<5 215,308 65.3 286,893 86.1 217,268 63.2 302,700 87.0 211,781 60.7 283,769 80.3

5-17 736,672 86.3 534,281 62.8 697,787 78.7 698,916 79.3 900,544 103.6 863,651 99.0

18-44 613,177 42.1 627,619 43.3 615,762 40.0 653,044 42.9 635,252 41.5 668,509 42.7

45-64 340,064 44.4 262,489 33.3 292,257 35.6 326,682 38.0 447,113 50.8 378,268 41.3

65+ 125,824 43.7 110,475 37.3 98,761 30.7 100,584 32.2 115,312 36.0 90,403 26.9

Note: 

2003 2004

2009

Table 10: Number of People Who Had an Asthma Attack or Episode and Prevalence Rate per 1,000 population by Age, 

Sex and Race, 1999-2009 (Attack Prevalence) (1)

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 1999-2009. Analysis by the 

American Lung Assocation Research and Program Services Division using SPSS and SUDAAN software. 

(1) Attack prevalence is defined as answering yes to " Have you EVER been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had asthma?" and "During the PAST 

12 MONTHS, have you had an episode of asthma or asthma attack?" 

1999 2000 2001 2002

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Number Rate CI of Rate (2) Number Rate CI of Rate (2) Number Rate CI of Rate (2) Number Rate CI of Rate (2)

1998 2,627,891 84.7 76.4 - 93.0 18,887,569 97.2 93.0 - 101.4 4,105,291 124.9 116.1 - 133.7 773,286 71.8 58.3 - 85.2

1999 2,564,233 80.2 71.6 - 88.8 17,833,735 91.1 87.1 - 95.1 3,424,782 102.8 93.0 - 112.7 878,864 82.7 65.5 - 99.9

2000 2,700,985 81.7 74.4 - 89.1 19,958,214 102.2 98.0 - 106.4 3,900,457 115.8 107.0 - 124.6 1,055,350 87.9 69.8 - 106.0

2001 3,232,703 94.7 86.8 - 102.5 22,607,687 115.3 110.7 - 120.0 4,291,178 126.2 116.7 - 135.6 1,222,089 99.1 81.9 - 116.3

2002 2,925,277 83.0 75.5 - 90.5 21,850,318 111.2 106.4 - 116.0 4,736,386 137.7 126.5 - 149.0 1,309,144 103.5 85.6 - 121.4

2003 3,478,767 87.5 79.6 - 95.5 20,663,795 104.0 99.9 - 108.1 4,563,212 129.3 119.5 - 139.1 1,061,767 86.1 68.6 - 103.7

2004 3,436,124 84.3 77.0 - 91.6 20,982,719 105.7 101.2 - 110.2 4,734,121 132.9 122.1 - 143.7 1,036,486 77.2 61.3 - 93.1

2005 3,876,926 91.9 84.4 - 99.4 22,426,806 112.5 108.1 - 116.9 4,904,487 136.1 125.8 - 146.4 1,412,314 103.9 86.4 - 121.4

2006 4,245,710 97.6 86.8 - 108.5 23,183,063 117.4 111.5 - 123.2 5,063,688 135.7 124.0 - 147.3 1,639,119 106.2 90.3 - 122.1

2007 4,624,043 102.3 93.3 - 111.3 22,616,361 114.7 108.9 - 120.5 5,010,098 132.6 119.9 - 145.3 1,757,088 105.3 89.0 - 121.5

2008 4,676,998 100.8 91.5 - 110.2 25,764,148 130.2 124.4 - 136.0 6,133,131 160.6 147.7 - 173.5 1,856,099 111.8 94.1 - 129.5

2009 5,275,939 110.3 100.7 - 119.9 26,529,060 133.7 127.5 - 139.9 6,340,872 165.2 151.4 - 179.1 1,340,699 80.0 88.2 - 124.8

2001 2,007,520 58.8 55.3 - 62.3 14,603,075 74.5 72.3 - 76.7 2,933,767 86.2 80.8 - 91.7 736,241 59.7 51.5 - 68.0

2002 1,726,590 49.0 45.5 - 52.5 14,245,694 72.5 70.3 - 74.7 3,271,962 95.1 90.9 - 99.4 781,470 61.8 52.7 - 70.9

2003 2,198,710 55.3 51.4 - 59.3 13,750,543 69.2 66.9 - 71.5 3,269,269 92.6 87.6 - 97.7 617,479 50.1 41.7 - 58.5

2004 2,123,900 52.1 48.2 - 56.0 14,475,412 72.9 70.8 - 75.1 3,355,168 94.2 88.9 - 99.4 590,356 44.0 36.5 - 51.4

2005 2,622,402 62.2 58.7 - 65.6 15,206,366 76.3 74.1 - 78.5 3,578,998 99.3 94.1 - 104.5 819,612 60.3 50.2 - 70.4

2006 2,774,937 63.8 59.0 - 68.6 15,588,033 78.9 76.1 - 81.7 3,490,816 93.5 87.8 - 99.2 1,022,199 66.2 56.8 - 75.7

2007 3,086,458 68.3 63.6 - 72.9 15,023,012 76.2 73.5 - 78.9 3,868,248 102.4 97.6 - 107.1 901,423 54.0 45.6 - 62.4

2008 2,696,473 58.1 52.8 - 63.4 15,471,719 78.2 75.1 - 81.2 4,029,342 105.5 99.4 - 111.6 1,119,968 67.4 57.9 - 76.9

2009 2,996,973 62.7 58.1 - 67.2 16,253,548 81.9 78.8 - 85.1 4,297,353 112.0 105.4 - 118.5 1,018,815 60.8 52.3 - 69.3

1998 1 117 182 36 0 32 3 39 7 7 570 852 39 0 37 0 41 0 1 648 035 50 1 45 1 55 1 276 987 25 7 19 0 32 4

Non-Hispanic Black Non-Hispanic Others (1) Non-Hispanic White

Attack Prevalence (5)

Lifetime Prevalence (3)

Current Prevalence (4)

Table 11: Asthma - Number of Conditions and Prevalence Rate per 1,000 population by Ethnic Origin, 1998-2009 

Hispanic

1998 1,117,182 36.0 32.3 - 39.7 7,570,852 39.0 37.0 - 41.0 1,648,035 50.1 45.1 - 55.1 276,987 25.7 19.0 - 32.4

1999 1,089,428 34.1 30.2 - 37.9 7,500,035 38.3 36.3 - 40.3 1,526,119 45.8 41.2 - 50.4 372,702 35.1 25.9 - 44.2

2000 1,087,330 32.9 29.7 - 36.1 7,864,152 40.3 36.8 - 42.5 1,601,492 47.6 42.6 - 52.5 426,248 35.5 27.5 - 43.5

2001 1,164,204 34.1 30.2 - 38.0 8,581,795 43.8 41.5 - 46.0 1,847,680 54.3 48.7 - 59.9 392,380 31.8 24.0 - 39.6

2002 1,087,489 30.8 27.3 - 34.4 8,401,593 42.8 40.4 - 45.1 1,895,262 55.1 50.2 - 60.0 523,847 41.4 33.1 - 49.8

2003 1,317,684 33.2 29.6 - 36.7 7,494,952 37.7 35.6 - 39.9 1,823,502 51.7 46.6 - 56.7 409,750 33.2 25.1 - 41.4

2004 1,242,176 30.5 27.2 - 33.8 8,162,307 41.1 38.7 - 43.6 1,948,083 54.7 49.7 - 59.7 331,788 24.7 18.0 - 31.4

2005 1,556,114 36.9 33.1 - 40.7 8,435,306 42.3 59.6 - 69.6 1,715,563 47.6 42.3 - 52.9 526,705 38.7 29.9 - 47.6

2006 1,606,472 36.9 32.2 - 41.7 8,442,077 42.7 39.9 - 45.6 1,801,492 48.3 42.4 - 54.2 593,070 38.4 29.3 - 47.5

2007 1,847,798 40.9 36.3 - 45.4 7,985,031 40.5 37.3 - 43.7 1,949,084 51.6 45.4 - 57.7 526,836 31.6 23.7 - 39.4

2008 1,563,994 33.7 28.6 - 38.8 8,336,575 42.1 39.0 - 45.3 2,230,905 58.4 52.1 - 64.7 594,723 35.8 26.9 - 44.8

2009 1,641,374 34.3 29.7 - 38.9 8,339,631 42.0 39.0 - 45.1 2,169,485 56.5 50.2 - 62.9 673,131 40.2 32.0 - 48.3

Notes: 

(5) Attack prevalence was defined as answering yes to "Have you EVER been told by a health professional that you had asthma?" and "During the PAST 12 MONTHS, have you 

had an episode of asthma or asthma attack?" 

(4) With the revision of the National Health Interview Survey in 1997, the question "During the past 12 months, did anyone in the family have asthma?" was eliminated and was 

replaced with two questions: "Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had asthma?" (Table 6) and "During the past 12 months, have you had an 

episode of asthma or asthma attack?" (Table 10). Realizing the information gap resulting with the revised questions, "Do you still have asthma?" was added in 2001- reinstating a 

measure of current prevalence. Data prior to 1997 should not be compared to data after 1997.

(3) Lifetime prevalence was defined as answering "yes" to "Have you EVER been told by a health professional that you had asthma?" 

(2) Does not include non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks. 

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 1998-2009. Analysis by the American Lung 

Assocation Research and Program Services Division using SPSS and SUDAAN software. 

(2) 95% Confidence Interval. 
State Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %

Alabama 391,671 11.6 476,083 14.0 388,422 11.2 470,053 13.6 458,143 13.1 435,900 12.3 420,024 11.9

Alaska 60,933 13.3 59,546 13.0 59,417 12.5 68,280 14.4 65,838 13.7 80,001 16.1 72,968 14.3

Arizona 511,360 12.5 513,810 12.4 531,780 12.2 640,112 14.7 636,534 14.0 703,901 14.9 752,544 15.5

Arkansas 231,481 11.3 246,838 12.0 239,803 11.4 247,852 11.8 250,015 11.7 274,924 12.8 248,418 11.5

California 3,473,157 13.4 3,681,050 14.0 3,488,798 13.2 3,400,733 12.7 3,512,686 12.9 3,828,105 13.8 3,802,432 13.6

Colorado 424,685 12.4 462,911 13.5 463,459 13.3 423,762 12.1 457,501 12.9 476,750 13.0 498,728 13.3

Connecticut 319,497 12.2 402,123 15.3 331,736 12.4 371,538 13.8 379,818 14.1 360,941 13.4 412,670 15.3

DC 58,117 12.7 69,533 15.3 66,966 15.3 68,310 15.5 70,384 11.7 90,061 16.2 76,466 16.1

Delaware 72,281 11.7 91,569 14.4 81,603 12.6 94,573 14.5 1,516,150 10.7 1,482,482 13.6 96,170 14.3

Florida 1,327,772 10.1 1,634,184 12.3 1,605,472 11.7 1,606,690 11.6 77,623 15.2 75,563 10.2 1,713,769 11.7

Georgia 757,493 11.8 797,776 12.3 771,633 11.5 876,730 13.1 832,340 12.0 904,220 12.7 816,188 11.3

Hawaii 110,997 11.6 --- --- 137,523 14.1 154,939 15.9 136,675 13.9 160,671 16.1 169,430 16.9

Idaho 114,347 11.7 131,431 13.1 123,425 11.7 137,293 13.1 143,209 13.2 137,638 12.7 143,190 12.7

Illinois 1,046,454 11.1 1,235,253 13.1 1,009,367 10.6 1,238,486 13.0 1,221,897 12.7 1,281,794 13.2 1,288,890 13.3

Indiana 552,962 12.0 615,746 13.3 592,979 12.7 596,402 12.7 627,860 13.3 646,585 13.7 630,478 13.1

Iowa 227,881 10.3 237,427 10.5 266,282 11.6 219,429 9.6 234,488 10.2 246,625 10.7 240,539 10.5

Kansas 232,690 11.5 244,306 12.0 223,603 10.8 251,105 12.2 252,736 12.1 274,017 13.2 262,757 12.6

Kentucky 391,927 12.6 444,475 13.9 424,702 13.3 375,058 11.7 407,060 12.6 477,284 14.7 487,386 14.9

Louisiana 336,420 10.2 389,856 11.8 364,606 10.8 363,337 10.8 325,451 10.0 386,009 11.7 366,607 11.0

Maine 134,498 13.4 150,850 14.7 156,625 15.0 147,710 14.1 159,793 15.2 164,628 15.7 158,837 15.2

Maryland 507,830 12.3 575,936 13.9 549,863 13.1 56,082 13.4 549,850 12.9 614,939 14.3 594,609 13.9

Massachusetts 710,328 14.4 743,248 14.9 701,580 14.2 720,570 14.5 759,457 15.4 738,079 14.8 792,575 15.8

Michigan 1,019,132 13.6 1,010,998 13.4 1,055,925 13.9 1,072,020 14.1 1,132,013 14.8 1,181,157 15.4 1,204,853 15.8

Minnesota 395,216 10.5 441,325 11.6 460,580 11.8 434,049 11.1 429,115 10.9 490,354 12.4 379,851 9.6

Mississippi 230,890 10.9 251,450 11.8 241,152 11.1 250,916 11.5 242,065 11.0 243,155 11.2 267,916 12.4

Missouri 508,330 11.9 579,825 13.4 627,935 14.2 558,313 12.6 590,670 13.2 608,359 13.6 650,013 14.5

Montana 76,242 11.1 90,922 13.0 92,065 12.6 89,826 12.4 97,102 13.1 107,378 14.6 91,245 12.1

Nebraska 132,872 10.3 137,485 10.6 143,333 10.8 147,497 11.2 151,883 11.4 138,106 10.4 152,153 11.4

Nevada 189,390 11.4 213,040 12.6 225,997 12.6 222,609 12.3 251,505 13.4 265,973 13.6 274,211 13.9

New Hampshire 125,421 12.9 148,349 15.0 147,998 14.7 150,852 14.9 153,914 15.0 157,863 15.3 169,026 16.4

New Jersey 710,625 10.9 887,629 13.6 767,067 11.7 798,272 12.1 851,242 12.9 852,177 12.8 836,242 12.6

New Mexico 142,570 10.5 202,131 14.7 208,641 14.5 200,317 13.9 204,292 13.9 185,452 12.6 202,194 13.5

New York 1,697,945 11.7 2,072,314 14.2 2,029,807 13.8 1,923,308 13.1 2,067,410 14.0 2,077,823 14.1 2,143,337 14.4

North Carolina 720,819 11.3 843,869 13.2 660,762 10.1 719,909 10.9 809,224 12.1 803,050 11.7 908,462 12.9

North Dakota 48,224 10.1 53,717 11.0 55,518 11.1 50,792 10.3 56,129 11.2 56,933 11.6 59,363 12.0

Ohio 931,899 10.8 1,054,109 12.3 983,657 11.3 1,182,149 13.6 1,142,773 13.1 1,236,970 14.2 1,304,326 15.0

Oklahoma 309,038 11.8 353,966 13.4 358,375 13.3 374,947 14.0 365,423 13.5 375,566 13.9 426,502 15.5

Oregon 395,124 14.7 442,292 16.3 427,040 15.3 425,338 15.3 448,345 15.8 434,186 14.9 480,765 16.3

Pennsylvania 1,129,529 11.9 1,245,840 13.1 1,182,384 12.3 1,180,673 12.2 1,255,615 13.0 1,282,433 13.3 1,300,037 13.4

Rhode Island 118,314 14.4 122,950 14.6 127,118 15.3 136,033 16.0 123,166 14.7 127,454 15.4 130,321 15.8

South Carolina 316,653 10.1 375,526 11.8 361,523 11.2 401,184 12.4 396,566 12.0 458,211 13.7 445,048 13.0

South Dakota 60,240 10.7 58,867 10.3 61,705 10.5 65,478 11.2 58,177 9.8 65,432 11.1 69,510 11.5

Tennessee 523,609 11.8 655,730 14.7 530,403 11.6 536,372 11.7 577,917 12.4 587,796 12.6 568,814 11.9

Texas 1,791,427 11.3 2,077,901 12.9 1,851,772 11.2 2,071,722 12.4 2,200,103 12.9 2,120,744 12.2 2,169,750 12.2

Utah 180,462 11.3 216,508 13.1 224,514 13.0 235,698 13.8 233,690 13.2 239,488 13.1 260,012 13.7

Vermont 57,969 12.2 72,274 15.0 73,074 14.9 67,889 13.8 70,810 14.3 75,669 15.4 72,554 14.8

Virginia 676,348 12.1 748,668 13.3 815,491 14.2 759,603 13.2 804,446 13.7 836,765 14.1 762,193 12.8

Washington 634,069 13.8 718,004 15.5 701,296 14.6 687,128 14.3 719,032 14.7 743,189 14.9 758,633 15.1

West Virginia 166,795 11.8 219,922 15.5 205,113 14.3 170,622 11.9 175,833 12.2 196,107 13.7 176,950 12.4

Wisconsin 451,051 11.0 516,521 12.4 555,467 13.1 529,183 12.5 566,309 13.2 605,906 14.2 593,121 13.7

Wyoming 42,219 11.2 48,222 12.7 49,767 12.6 52,525 13.3 49,833 12.5 55,557 14.0 54,401 13.5

United States 11.9 13.3 12.6 13.0 13.1 13.3 13.4

Note:

--- Data not available. 

28,534,268

(1) Lifetime prevalence was defined as answering yes to "Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that you had asthma?" 

29,758,055

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 2002-2009 

Table 12: Asthma - Estimated Lifetime Prevalence (%) in Adults, by State, 2003-2009 

2003 2005 2007 2008 2009

25,777,202 30,901,203 30,957,478

2004 2006

29,064,305 28,090,493
State Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %

Alabama 253,590 7.5 293,302 8.6 246,232 7.1 305,741 8.9 306,327 8.8 274,722 7.8 268,152 7.6

Alaska 41,766 9.1 41,028 9.0 37,076 7.8 44,835 9.5 37,290 7.8 47,032 9.6 45,673 9.0

Arizona 341,357 8.3 297,681 7.2 322,555 7.4 385,692 8.9 391,673 8.7 461,326 9.8 522,999 10.8

Arkansas 148,628 7.3 150,688 7.4 157,765 7.5 159,328 7.6 147,985 7.0 177,067 8.3 162,637 7.5

California 2,171,227 8.4 2,011,241 7.7 1,902,981 7.2 2,031,457 7.6 2,047,732 7.5 2,326,451 8.4 2,192,009 7.8

Colorado 281,149 8.3 297,140 8.7 285,741 8.2 274,835 7.9 275,248 7.8 294,938 8.1 307,568 8.2

Connecticut 216,680 8.3 253,416 9.7 214,023 8.0 247,824 9.3 249,490 9.3 235,398 8.8 250,864 9.3

DC 46,213 7.5 62,935 10.0 55,050 8.5 62,522 9.6 43,161 7.8 63,483 9.6 46,704 9.8

Delaware 35,548 7.8 41,568 9.2 40,267 9.2 43,721 10.0 51,921 9.4 44,405 9.6 58,198 8.7

Florida 801,089 6.1 961,017 7.3 933,095 6.8 993,890 7.2 870,423 6.2 954,707 6.6 1,048,581 7.1

Georgia 449,626 7.0 480,174 7.4 489,819 7.3 531,047 8.0 524,105 7.6 603,748 8.5 499,840 6.9

Hawaii 54,170 5.6 --- --- 73,151 7.5 77,928 8.1 78,472 8.0 95,665 9.6 93,660 9.3

Idaho 76,716 7.9 79,281 8.0 77,009 7.3 95,258 9.2 94,123 8.7 95,785 8.9 94,046 8.3

Illinois 692,016 7.4 796,395 8.4 666,563 7.0 790,144 8.3 792,632 8.3 759,775 7.9 878,007 9.0

Indiana 370,367 8.1 386,834 8.4 382,868 8.2 390,702 8.4 411,625 8.8 432,805 9.2 435,005 9.1

Iowa 138,355 6.2 149,594 6.6 165,278 7.2 147,692 6.5 160,200 7.0 178,374 7.7 155,480 6.8

Kansas 151,163 7.5 150,327 7.4 142,858 6.9 170,368 8.3 174,725 8.4 180,033 8.7 176,940 8.5

Kentucky 304,498 9.8 262,930 8.3 281,006 8.8 261,590 8.2 289,874 9.0 312,561 9.7 333,105 10.2

Louisiana 205,465 6.2 203,677 6.2 199,183 5.9 199,144 5.9 203,641 6.3 264,428 8.0 210,200 6.3

Maine 98,475 9.9 98,627 9.6 106,505 10.2 100,915 9.7 107,576 10.3 107,556 10.3 112,578 10.8

Maryland 320,823 7.8 322,297 7.8 348,386 8.3 372,862 8.9 350,892 8.3 404,518 9.4 389,058 9.1

Massachusetts 488,412 9.9 479,099 9.7 474,308 9.6 487,835 9.9 484,178 9.9 477,599 9.6 540,250 10.8

Michigan 693,663 9.3 620,085 8.3 691,289 9.1 723,120 9.6 719,418 9.5 750,954 9.9 760,408 10.0

Minnesota 254,593 6.8 283,896 7.5 327,871 8.4 304,195 7.8 305,592 7.7 307,490 7.8 262,408 6.6

Mississippi 145,707 6.9 150,640 7.1 156,423 7.2 150,914 6.9 144,009 6.6 151,990 7.0 163,015 7.5

Missouri 339,842 8.0 392,871 9.1 397,987 9.0 380,384 8.6 380,658 8.5 377,375 8.4 425,641 9.5

Montana 54,624 7.9 60,162 8.6 57,723 7.9 59,786 8.3 68,341 9.3 70,590 9.6 61,099 8.1

Nebraska 91,434 7.1 89,957 6.9 88,920 6.7 98,618 7.5 107,180 8.1 94,457 7.1 101,412 7.6

Nevada 108,545 6.6 120,476 7.1 127,348 7.1 138,399 7.7 129,045 6.9 156,829 8.6 177,717 9.0

New Hampshire 82,578 8.5 101,106 10.3 103,699 10.3 97,524 9.7 104,353 10.2 106,788 10.4 105,488 10.2

New Jersey 460,222 7.1 563,149 8.6 491,709 7.5 502,676 7.6 549,463 8.3 572,877 8.6 507,465 7.7

New Mexico 91,757 6.7 127,614 9.3 128,062 8.9 121,382 8.5 127,055 8.7 124,847 8.5 128,357 8.6

New York 1,106,254 7.6 1,292,115 8.9 1,367,913 9.3 1,240,431 8.5 1,287,371 8.7 1,293,638 8.8 1,451,893 9.8

North Carolina 451,015 7.1 481,011 7.5 425,243 6.5 444,380 6.8 524,000 7.8 519,735 7.6 547,197 7.8

North Dakota 33,510 7.0 37,378 7.7 36,512 7.3 34,767 7.1 38,334 7.7 38,885 7.9 43,549 8.8

Ohio 608,796 7.1 726,742 8.5 696,394 8.0 842,229 9.8 773,188 8.9 831,787 9.6 860,813 9.9

Oklahoma 198,626 7.6 217,629 8.3 229,037 8.5 236,351 8.9 232,877 8.6 241,011 8.9 272,810 9.9

Oregon 249,204 9.3 260,500 9.7 281,902 10.1 272,413 9.8 274,990 9.7 249,787 8.6 325,180 11.0

Pennsylvania 785,143 8.3 837,444 8.8 778,643 8.1 845,882 8.8 900,883 9.3 892,650 9.3 876,067 9.1

Rhode Island 78,694 9.6 81,218 9.6 88,899 10.7 89,235 10.5 82,206 9.9 87,265 10.6 82,357 10.0

South Carolina 191,055 6.1 242,164 7.6 213,040 6.6 246,732 7.7 246,859 7.5 276,366 8.3 267,110 7.8

South Dakota 41,290 7.3 37,769 6.7 42,899 7.3 44,952 7.7 41,679 7.1 42,409 7.2 46,505 7.7

Tennessee 350,559 7.9 400,139 9.0 352,078 7.7 386,334 8.5 401,989 8.7 419,409 9.0 386,078 8.1

Texas 1,093,265 6.9 1,147,991 7.1 1,124,290 6.8 1,209,906 7.3 1,396,996 8.2 1,271,563 7.3 1,140,586 6.4

Utah 117,491 7.4 131,414 8.0 138,162 8.0 143,141 8.4 143,469 8.1 153,175 8.4 151,938 8.0

Vermont 39,683 8.4 40,767 8.5 48,062 9.8 45,383 9.3 47,053 9.6 48,390 9.9 48,282 9.8

Virginia 422,958 7.6 412,370 7.3 499,632 8.7 484,637 8.4 466,343 8.0 544,652 9.3 466,373 7.8

Washington 412,896 9.1 423,408 9.2 441,912 9.2 424,579 8.9 452,707 9.3 461,670 9.3 440,793 8.8

West Virginia 114,053 8.1 143,407 10.1 131,961 9.2 122,851 8.6 129,573 9.0 137,715 9.6 125,596 8.8

Wisconsin 307,347 7.5 353,340 8.6 390,099 9.2 371,803 8.8 394,596 9.2 400,500 9.4 420,728 9.7

Wyoming 28,018 7.5 28,918 7.7 30,808 7.8 34,104 8.7 32,152 8.1 36,454 9.2 35,759 8.9

United States 7.7 8.1 8.0 8.5 8.4 8.5 8.4

Note:

--- Data not available. 

18,272,438

(1) Current prevalence was defined as answering yes to "Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that you had asthma?" and "Do you still have 

asthma?"

18,778,074

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 2002-2009 

Table 13: Asthma - Estimated Current Prevalence (%) in Adults, by State, 2003-2009 

2003 2005 2007 2008 2009

16,640,152 19,617,958 19,504,178

2004 2006

17,624,929 17,835,234
Metropolitan / Micropolitan Area (1)

Akron, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 15.6 10.6

Albuquerque, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.5 8.5

Alexandria, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.9 7.4

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.6 9.0

Anchorage, AK Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.8 9.6

Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.8 7.2

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.0 6.5

Atlantic City, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.5 6.8

Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.6 7.0

Augusta-Waterville, ME Micropolitan Statistical Area 17.4 11.7

Austin-Round Rock, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.6 7.3

Baltimore-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 15.0 10.6

Bangor, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area 19.0 13.9

Barre, VT Micropolitan Statistical Area 13.7 6.9

Baton Rouge, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.9 7.3

Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division 12.7 8.1

Billings, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.7 8.6

Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.5 8.1

Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.4 9.1

Boise City-Nampa, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.1 6.4

Boston-Quincy, MA Metropolitan Division 16.7 10.4

Bozeman, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area 7.9 4.9

Bremerton-Silverdale, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 15.6 10.2

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.8 7.9

Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Tonawanda, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.5 9.4

Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.5 8.8

Butte-Silver Bow, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area 15.4 10.4

Cambridge Newton Framingham MA Metropolitan Division 15 5 10 9

Table 14: Asthma - Estimated Lifetime and Current Prevalence (%) in Adults for Selected Areas, 2009

Lifetime 

Prevalence (2)

Current 

Prevalence (3)

Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA Metropolitan Division 15.5 10.9

Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division 15.4 9.9

Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.2 8.5

Casper, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.2 8.2

Cedar Rapids, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 8.7 6.6

Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.6 8.1

Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.8 6.9

Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.4 7.1

Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.8 9.3

Cheyenne, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.2 8.7

Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.8 9.1

Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.0 8.8

Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 15.7 11.9

Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.9 7.1

Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 9.3 4.2

Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.8 6.8

Concord, NH Micropolitan Statistical Area 15.8 10.0

Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 15.6 7.2

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.8 7.9

Dayton, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 18.5 12.1

Denver-Aurora, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.0 8.1

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.8 9.0

Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Division 17.0 9.7

Dover, DE Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.1 8.4

Durham, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.6 5.9

Edison, NJ Metropolitan Division 12.2 7.5

El Paso, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 9.7 6.6

Evansville, IN-KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.5 8.5

(Continued on next page)
Metropolitan / Micropolitan Area (1)

Fargo, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.4 8.9

Farmington, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.0 6.2

Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.8 6.5

Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.2 10.1

Fort Collins-Loveland, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 17.5 10.4

Fort Wayne, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.2 10.3

Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Division 11.9 5.1

Gallup, NM Micropolitan Statistical Area 11.2 7.0

Grand Island, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area 11.5 8.1

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 17.9 12.5

Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 16.6 8.2

Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.1 9.2

Greenville, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.4 9.0

Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.3 6.1

Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.0 7.8

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 15.8 9.1

Hastings, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area 11.2 7.4

Heber, UT Micropolitan Statistical Area 9.6 6.6

Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 15.0 8.9

Hilo, HI Micropolitan Statistical Area 17.0 11.2

Hilton Head Island-Beaufort, SC Micropolitan Statistical Area 11.6 7.0

Honolulu, HI Metropolitan Statistical Area 17.5 9.3

Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.1 6.7

Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.9 6.2

Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.2 9.7

Idaho Falls, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.0 11.5

Indianapolis-Carmel, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.8 9.5

Jackson MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 14 0 9 4

Table 14 cont'd: Asthma - Estimated Lifetime and Current Prevalence (%) in Adults for Selected Areas, 2009

Lifetime 

Prevalence (2)

Current 

Prevalence (3)

Jackson, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.0 9.4

Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.6 9.3

Kahului-Wailuku, HI Micropolitan Statistical Area 14.7 9.5

Kalispell, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area 8.1 6.3

Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.7 9.0

Kapaa, HI Micropolitan Statistical Area 13.3 6.5

Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.2 8.4

Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.4 8.0

Lake Charles, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.5 6.9

Las Cruces, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.1 8.1

Las Vegas-Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.1 9.2

Lawrence, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.7 8.3

Lebanon, NH-VT Micropolitan Statistical Area 14.8 10.8

Lewiston, ID-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 22.0 14.6

Lincoln, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area 18.8 12.9

Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.7 6.8

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 11.6 6.6

Louisville, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.9 9.7

Lubbock, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 22.2 13.1

Manchester-Nashua, NH Metropolitan Statistical Area 16.6 10.5

Manhattan, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area 14.1 9.3

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 8.4 3.2

Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.0 7.0

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.8 4.6

Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.9 7.5

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.1 7.5

Minot, ND Micropolitan Statistical Area 11.5 9.8

(Continued on next page)
Metropolitan / Micropolitan Area (1)

Mobile, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.8 6.0

Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 17.9 9.7

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.8 6.5

Nassau-Suffolk, NY Metropolitan Division 11.3 8.2

New Haven-Milford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.1 9.2

New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 9.8 4.7

New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 13.5 8.5

Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division 11.7 7.1

Norfolk, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area 9.4 6.4

North Platte, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area 12.3 10.5

Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA 15.8 9.5

Ocean City, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 8.0 6.3

Ogden-Clearfield, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.9 8.6

Oklahoma City, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 15.6 10.0

Olympia, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 17.8 10.7

Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 9.3 5.8

Orlando-Kissimmee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.2 6.0

Pascagoula, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.7 6.9

Peabody, MA 16.5 11.9

Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 15.9 10.2

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 16.1 11.9

Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.3 8.9

Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.9 9.3

Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 15.2 9.7

Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 16.3 11.0

Provo-Orem, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.8 6.0

Table 14 cont'd: Asthma - Estimated Lifetime and Current Prevalence (%) in Adults for Selected Areas, 2009

Lifetime 

Prevalence (2)

Current 

Prevalence (3)

, p

Raleigh-Cary, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.5 7.4

Rapid City, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 16.9 11.0

Reno-Sparks, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.5 9.4

Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.4 6.8

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.2 7.9

Riverton, WY Micropolitan Statistical Area 13.4 9.7

Rochester, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 21.5 15.3

Rockingham County-Strafford County, NH Metropolitan Division 17.1 9.6

Rutland, VT Micropolitan Statistical Area 12.8 9.6

Sacramento—Arden-Arcade—Roseville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 18.3 9.9

Salt Lake City, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area 16.0 9.0

San Antonio, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.0 8.3

San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.5 7.1

San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA 13.3 8.2

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 9.2 4.5

Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division 12.3 6.9

Santa Fe, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.4 7.9

Scottsbluff, NE Micropolitan Statistical Area 9.3 5.7

Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.1 10.1

Seaford, DE Micropolitan Statistical Area 12.5 8.2

Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 14.5 8.3

Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.3 4.6

Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.3 7.5

Sioux Falls, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 9.4 6.7

Spokane, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.8 8.4

Springfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 16.2 10.1

(Continued on next page)
Metropolitan / Micropolitan Area (1)

St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.1 8.6

Tacoma, WA Metropolitan Division 15.7 10.8

Tallahassee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 9.2 7.2

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.6 6.9

Toledo, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 16.8 12.8

Topeka, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.7 8.8

Trenton-Ewing, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.1 5.8

Tucson, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 15.4 11.3

Tulsa, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.9 9.7

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.7 8.8

Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division 13.5 9.2

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 14.0 8.0

Wenatchee, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.1 9.0

Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 10.1 6.5

Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division 15.5 9.1

Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.8 6.6

Worcester, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.1 10.6

Yakima, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.9 8.0

Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 9.7 7.6

Notes:

Lifetime 

Prevalence (2)

Current 

Prevalence (3)

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2009

(1) A metropolitan area is a group of counties with at least one urbanized area of 50,000 more inhabitants, a micropolitan area is a group of counties with at least one urban 

cluster of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000 inhabitants and a metropolitan division is a smaller group of counties within a metropolitan statistical area of 2.5 million or more 

inhabitants.

(2) Lifetime prevalence was defined as answering yes to "Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that you had asthma?"

(3) Current prevalence was defined as answering yes to "Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that you had asthma?" and "Do you still have 

asthma?"

Table 14 cont'd: Asthma - Estimated Lifetime and Current Prevalence (%) in Adults for Selected Areas, 2009
State Number % Number % Number % Number %

Alabama --- -- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Alaska 18,280 9.8 20,830 11.0 --- --- --- ---

Arizona 225,386 14.3 217,163 13.6 200,272 12.1 --- ---

Arkansas --- -- --- --- --- --- --- ---

California 1,186,312 12.6 1,289,140 13.2 1,116,129 12.3 989,810 11.3

Colorado --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Connecticut --- --- 117,845 14.6 131,713 16.6 137,068 17.3

Delaware --- --- --- --- --- --- 37,530 18.2

D.C. 20,016 19.3 22,521 19.9 20,871 18.8 22,548 20.4

Florida --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Georgia 330,289 14.3 360,410 15.3 392,262 16.1 382,048 15.3

Hawaii 61,505 20.6 55,478 18.2 54,355 18.8 50,707 18.0

Idaho 35,786 9.5 --- --- 32,988 8.8 36,020 8.8

Illinois --- --- 363,467 11.3 382,223 12.1 414,661 13.1

Indiana 192,803 12.3 179,341 11.3 203,773 13.0 226,662 14.7

Iowa 61,518 9.1 57,575 8.7 60,426 9.3 47,593 6.8

Kansas 80,438 11.9 75,716 11.2 83,766 12.3 82,933 12.1

Kentucky 128,178 13.3 --- --- 137,023 14.0 --- ---

Louisiana --- --- --- --- --- --- 154,689 14.4

Maine 34,267 12.4 36,508 13.3 38,342 14.0 --- ---

Maryland 179,950 13.1 188,966 13.7 190,389 14.3 227,847 17.2

Massachusetts --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Michigan 315,704 12.7 350,245 14.2 374,252 15.8 268,410 11.4

Minnesota 115,806 9.5 --- --- --- --- --- ---

Mississippi 105,528 14.3 109,587 14.8 91,012 14.2 110,304 14.7

Missouri 187,220 13.8 179,697 13.0 199,884 14.5 --- ---

Montana 20,378 9.9 19,664 9.6 21,815 10.3 19,906 9.2

Nebraska 43,846 10.1 48,234 11.1 34,946 8.0 39,348 8.9

Nevada 73,097 11.8 65,582 10.3 72,291 11.4 70,492 10.7

New Hampshire 39,012 13.2 33,327 11.3 34,633 12.1 --- ---

New Jersey 324,682 15.4 --- --- 262,557 13.1 285,676 14.3

New Mexico --- --- 63,853 13.0 56,810 11.3 --- ---

New York 664,779 15.0 718,245 16.1 707,399 16.1 706,328 16.6

North Carolina --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

North Dakota --- --- --- --- 10,678 7.6 13,068 9.2

Ohio 263,038 9.7 371,762 13.7 367,102 13.6 --- ---

Oklahoma 110,537 13.0 132,346 15.5 121,927 13.8 --- ---

Oregon 105,685 12.6 100,186 11.9 81,532 9.9 --- ---

Pennsylvania 328,385 12.0 405,170 14.7 375,644 13.8 398,333 14.8

Rhode Island 38,493 16.5 --- --- 38,959 17.1 35,308 15.8

South Carolina --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

South Dakota --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Tennessee --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Texas 833,627 13.5 --- --- 910,031 14.2 873,232 13.3

Utah 68,649 9.1 88,037 11.7 77,218 9.9 88,888 10.9

Vermont 16,920 12.9 16,118 12.4 18,822 14.5 19,947 15.6

Virginia 256,766 14.4 238,420 13.2 257,563 14.7 216,396 12.1

Washington --- --- --- --- --- --- 170,137 11.2

West Virginia 42,132 11.3 51,331 13.7 56,091 14.8 47,463 12.7

Wisconsin 130,541 10.1 --- --- --- --- 126,280 9.8

Wyoming 12,737 10.9 --- --- 10,139 8.4 --- ---

Note:

--- Data not available. 

Table 15: Asthma - Estimated Lifetime Prevalence (%) in Children, by State, 2006-2009 

(1) Lifetime prevalence was defined as answering yes to "Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health 

professional that you had asthma?" 

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 2006-2009 

2006 2007 2008 2009
State Number % Number % Number % Number %

Alabama --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Alaska 12,857 6.9 13,121 6.9 --- --- --- ---

Arizona 158,993 10.1 118,151 7.4 135,062 8.2 --- ---

Arkansas --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

California 786,201 8.3 743,366 7.6 644,122 7.1 582,005 6.6

Colorado --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Connecticut --- --- 76,562 9.5 87,552 11.1 94,930 12.0

DC 14,751 14.2 17,896 15.8 13,955 12.6 15,414 13.9

Delaware --- --- --- --- --- --- 27,827 13.5

Florida --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Georgia 231,259 10.0 228,590 9.7 291,215 11.9 246,939 9.9

Hawaii 36,804 12.3 36,802 12.1 36,638 12.7 31,681 11.2

Idaho 23,705 6.3 --- --- 24,815 6.6 18,842 4.6

Illinois --- --- 250,015 7.8 267,681 8.5 294,587 9.3

Indiana 130,676 8.4 125,651 7.9 132,798 8.5 150,780 9.8

Iowa 44,092 6.5 34,011 5.1 43,349 6.6 33,338 4.8

Kansas 61,972 9.2 55,421 8.2 61,274 9.0 56,859 8.3

Kentucky 89,884 9.3 --- --- 92,652 9.5 --- ---

Louisiana --- --- --- --- --- --- 101,210 9.4

Maine 23,761 8.6 23,228 8.5 25,586 9.4 --- ---

Maryland 124,398 9.1 123,400 8.9 127,173 9.5 158,416 11.9

Massachusetts --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Michigan 211,524 8.5 243,470 9.9 254,583 10.7 191,531 8.1

Minnesota 85,072 7.0 --- --- --- --- --- ---

Mississippi 75,264 10.2 76,710 10.4 65,488 10.2 78,025 10.4

Missouri 133,051 9.8 118,649 8.6 140,278 10.2 --- ---

Montana 13,610 6.6 14,181 6.9 14,301 6.7 13,846 6.4

Nebraska 28,848 6.7 36,515 8.4 26,887 6.1 22,988 5.2

Nevada 43,927 7.1 40,300 6.3 46,709 7.4 45,517 6.9

New Hampshire 26,981 9.1 22,164 7.5 24,709 8.6 --- ---

New Jersey 219,880 10.4 --- --- 171,080 8.5 182,045 9.1

New Mexico --- --- 42,012 8.6 38,309 7.6 --- ---

New York 473,648 10.7 514,553 11.6 467,137 10.6 427,503 10.0

North Carolina --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

North Dakota --- --- --- --- 7,666 5.4 8,114 5.7

Ohio 219,361 8.1 237,040 8.7 252,161 9.4 --- ---

Oklahoma 72,864 8.6 93,099 10.9 88,363 10.0 --- ---

Oregon 72,348 8.6 69,699 8.3 46,436 5.6 --- ---

Pennsylvania 228,568 8.4 291,722 10.6 267,171 9.8 276,710 10.3

Rhode Island 24,686 10.6 --- --- 28,135 12.4 24,588 11.0

South Carolina --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

South Dakota --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Tennessee --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Texas 579,987 9.4 --- --- 588,082 9.2 535,324 8.2

Utah 49,192 6.5 58,718 7.8 51,881 6.6 59,327 7.3

Vermont 12,202 9.3 10,082 7.7 12,804 9.9 12,909 10.1

Virginia 185,046 10.4 137,364 7.6 169,670 9.7 147,139 8.3

Washington --- --- --- --- --- --- 103,744 6.8

West Virginia 31,079 8.3 38,326 10.2 43,464 11.5 31,600 8.5

Wisconsin 95,916 7.4 --- --- --- --- 89,025 6.9

Wyoming 9,970 8.6 --- --- 7,239 6.0 --- ---

Note:

--- Data not available. 

2006 2007 2008 2009

Table 16: Asthma - Estimated Current Prevalence (%) in Children, by State, 2006-2009 

(1) Current prevalence was defined as answering yes to "Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health 

professional that you had asthma?" and "Do you still have asthma?"

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 2006-2009 
Year Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate

1979 339,000 15.7 143,000 13.1 196,000 17.0

1980 408,000 18.0 180,000 16.3 228,000 19.6

1981 418,000 18.4 180,000 16.2 237,000 20.1

1982 434,000 18.9 190,000 17.1 245,000 20.6

1983 459,000 19.8 190,000 17.0 269,000 22.4

1984 465,000 19.8 197,000 17.1 268,000 22.0

1985 462,000 19.5 195,000 17.0 266,000 21.8

1986 477,000 19.9 206,000 17.8 271,000 21.9

1987 454,000 18.8 193,000 16.5 261,000 20.9

1988 479,000 19.6 210,000 17.7 270,000 21.4

1989 (2) 475,000 19.3 204,000 17.1 271,000 21.3

1990 476,000 19.1 191,000 15.8 285,000 22.2

1991 490,000 19.6 221,000 18.2 269,000 20.9

1992 463,000 18.3 201,000 16.3 263,000 20.1

1993 468,000 18.3 191,000 15.3 278,000 21.1

1994 451,000 17.4 189,000 15.0 262,000 19.7

1995 511,000 19.5 210,000 16.5 301,000 22.4

1996 474,000 17.9 195,000 15.1 279,000 20.6

1997 484,000 17.9 204,000 15.4 279,000 20.2

1998 423,000 15.5 168,000 12.6 255,000 18.3

1999 478,000 17.4 190,000 14.1 288,000 20.4

2000 465,000 16.7 198,000 14.5 267,000 18.8

2001 454,000 16.0 186,000 13.4 268,000 18.5

2002 484,000 16.9 196,000 13.9 288,000 19.7

2003 574,000 19.8 232,000 16.3 342,000 23.2

2004 497,000 17.0 207,000 14.5 290,000 19.4

2005 489,000 16.6 192,000 13.3 296,000 19.7

2006 444,000 14.9 177,000 12.1 266,000 17.6

Notes: 

(1) Due to rounding, numbers across may not add to the total number of hospital discharges. 

(2) Data from 1988-2007 may not be comparable to earlier years due to a redesign of the survey. 

Table 17: Asthma - Number of First-Listed Hospital Discharges and Rate per 10,000 population by Sex, 

1979-2006 (1) 

Total Male Female

Source: National Center for Health Statistics. National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1979-2006. 
Year Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate

1979 99,000 19.8 94,000 9.5 83,000 19.1 63,000 27.0 339,000 15.7

1980 124,000 24.2 99,000 9.5 101,000 22.7 84,000 32.7 408,000 18.0

1981 128,000 25.0 112,000 10.6 104,000 23.4 74,000 28.2 418,000 18.4

1982 151,000 29.3 104,000 9.7 98,000 22.1 81,000 30.4 434,000 18.9

1983 136,000 26.4 110,000 10.1 119,000 26.7 94,000 34.2 459,000 19.8

1984 150,000 29.0 109,000 9.9 102,000 22.8 105,000 37.4 466,000 19.8

1985 144,000 27.8 124,000 11.1 97,000 21.5 97,000 34.1 462,000 19.5

1986 158,000 30.3 122,000 10.8 99,000 22.0 98,000 33.7 477,000 19.9

1987 149,000 28.4 112,000 9.8 92,000 20.4 101,000 33.8 454,000 18.8

1988 164,000 31.0 110,000 9.6 93,000 20.3 112,000 36.8 479,000 19.6

1989 (2) 168,000 31.2 127,000 11.0 88,000 19.0 93,000 29.9 475,000 19.3

1990 169,000 30.8 119,000 10.3 86,000 18.2 102,000 32.4 476,000 19.1

1991 187,000 33.9 128,000 10.9 85,000 18.2 90,000 28.5 490,000 19.6

1992 193,000 34.4 117,000 10.0 78,000 16.1 76,000 23.6 463,000 18.3

1993 159,000 28.0 128,000 10.9 94,000 19.0 87,000 26.6 468,000 18.3

1994 169,000 29.5 125,000 10.6 80,000 15.7 76,000 22.9 451,000 17.4

1995 212,000 36.7 135,000 11.4 87,000 16.7 77000 23.0 511,000 19.5

1996 195,000 33.8 132,000 11.1 88,000 16.4 59,000 17.4 474,000 17.9

1997 214,000 35.8 117,000 9.6 88,000 15.9 65,000 19.2 484,000 17.9

1998 166,000 27.7 104,000 8.6 92,000 16.2 60,000 17.7 423,000 15.5

1999 190,000 31.5 122,000 10.0 94,000 15.9 73,000 21.3 478,000 17.4

2000 203,000 33.6 111,000 9.1 84,000 13.7 68,000 19.6 465,000 16.7

2001 182,000 30.1 104,000 8.4 92,000 14.3 76,000 21.4 454,000 16.0

2002 187,000 30.8 109,000 8.8 109,000 16.4 80,000 22.5 484,000 16.9

2003 213,000 35.0 127,000 10.2 125,000 18.3 109,000 30.5 574,000 19.8

2004 190,000 31.0 91,000 7.3 112,000 15.9 104,000 28.7 497,000 17.0

2005 159,302 26.2 97,810 7.8 119,444 16.4 112,038 30.5 488,594 16.6

2006 145,000 23.9 89,000 7.1 121,000 16.2 88,000 23.7 444,000 14.9

Notes:

Source: National Center for Health Statistics. National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1979-2006. 

(1) Due to rounding, numbers across may not add to the total number of hospital discharges. 

(2) Data from 1989-2006 may not be comparable to earlier years due to a redesign of the survey. 

Table 18: Asthma - Number of First-Listed Hospital Discharges and Rate per 10,000 population by Age, 

1979-2006 (1)

<15 15-44 45-64 65+ Total
Year Total (2) White Black All Other

Not 

Reported (3) Total White Black All Other

1988 479,000 295,000 116,000 31,000 37,000 19.6 14.4 39.4 36.1

1989 475,000 286,000 117,000 22,000 50,000 19.3 13.9 39.2 24.2

1990 476,000 263,000 116,000 19,000 78,000 19.1 12.7 38.3 19.8

1991 490,000 269,000 120,000 23,000 78,000 19.6 12.8 38.9 22.9

1992 463,000 215,000 134,000 25,000 89,000 18.3 10.2 42.8 23.8

1993 468,000 246,000 103,000 22,000 97,000 18.3 11.5 32.3 20.1

1994 451,000 227,000 125,000 29,000 70,000 17.4 10.5 38.6 26.0

1995 511,000 256,000 140,000 25,000 90,000 19.5 11.6 42.7 21.4

1996 474,000 237,000 133,000 33,000 70,000 17.9 10.8 40.1 27.6

1997 484,000 262,000 125,000 39,000 58,000 17.9 11.8 35.5 30.7

1998 423,000 222,000 115,000 28,000 58,000 15.5 10.0 32.2 21.0

1999 478,000 236,000 128,000 42,000 72,000 17.4 10.4 35.5 31.2

2000 465,000 234,000 117,000 18,000 79,000 16.7 10.3 32.9 10.3

2001 454,000 231,000 114,000 22,000 86,000 16.0 10.1 31.7 12.2

2002 484,000 244,000 131,000 19,000 90,000 16.9 10.5 36.0 9.9

2003 574,000 284,000 145,000 32,000 113,000 19.8 12.2 39.3 16.7

2004 497,000 236,000 126,000 35,000 100,000 17.0 10.0 33.9 17.3

2005 488,594 262,905 101,581 24,227 99,881 16.6 11.1 27.0 11.8

2006 444,000 228,000 112,000 14,000 89,000 14.9 9.6 29.3 6.7

Notes:

(3) Between 1988 and 2006, the number of discharges not reporting race increased dramatically. It appears that hospital disharges in Whites might be 

disproportionately underestimated, particularly in later years. For this reason, comparisons between races should be made with caution. 

Table 19: Asthma - Number of First-Listed Hospital Discharges and Rate per 10,000 population by Race, 1988-

2006 

Number Rate (1)

Source: National Center for Health Statistics. National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1979-2006. 

(1) Rates may differ from previously published rates due to adjustments made to population used. 

(2) Includes White, Black and Other Race discharges as well as those of an unspecified race. 
Year Combined Settings Physician Offices

Outpatient 

Departments

Emergency 

Departments

1989 6,822 6,822 NA NA

1990 7,137 7,137 NA NA

1991 NA NA NA NA

1992 11,851 9,740 644 1,467

1993 14,048 11,340 1,022 1,686

1994 13,373 10,757 1,009 1,607

1995 12,192 9,026 1,301 1,865

1996 11,889 9,051 903 1,935

1997 12,848 9,834 1,097 1,917

1998 15,886 12,868 984 2,034

1999 12,805 9,498 1,310 1,997

2000 12,203 9,332 1,036 1,835

2001 14,231 11,280 1,286 1,665

2002 15,815 12,692 1,225 1,898

2003 16,120 12,855 1,512 1,753

2004 16,500 13,607 1,054 1,838

2005 15,897 12,823 1,304 1,770

2006 14,586 10,590 1,198 1,681

Note:

NA: Not Available

Number of visits in thousands

Table 20: Asthma - Number of Visits to Physician Offices, Outpatient Departments and Emergency 

Departments, 1989-2006

Sources: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1989-2006, and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1992-2006.
Figure 1: Asthma - Age-Adjusted Death Rates Based on the 1940 an

populations, 1979-2007 (1)

1.01.52.02.5

d Death Rates per 100,000 Persons

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1940 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.0 2000 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.0 1.7 1.6 1.5 

Notes:Source: Age Standardization of Death Rates: Implementation of the Year 2000 Standard. National Vital Statistics Reports Vol. 47 No. 3 and CDC compiled from Compressed Mortality File 1999-2007 Series 20 No. 2M, 2010. Accessed on May 12, 2011.1) 1979-1998 rates reflect the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision Code 493. 1999-2007 rates reflect the ICD 10th Revision Co

0.00.5

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

Age‐Adjusted
Age, Ethnic Origin and Geographic Region, 2009 (1

Sex 

Lifetime

Asthma

39,930,124

Figure 2: Percentage Distribution of Lifetime Asthma by 

Male

18,521,131

46.4%

Female

21,408,993

53.6% 

5-17

8,527,32

21.4%

18-44

15,743,442

39.4%

45-64

9,706,421

24.3%

Race 

Source: National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 2009

Note:(1) Lifetime Prevalence is defined as answering yes to "Have you EVER been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had ast

NonHispanic 

White

26,529,060

67.2%

NonHispanic 

Black

6,340,872

16.1%

Non-Hispanic 

Other

1,340,699

3.4%

Hispanic

5,275,939

13.4%

Northeas

7,223,44

18.1%

Midwe

9,789,

South 24.5%

13,841,369

34.7%

West

9,076,138

22.7%
Age, Ethnic Origin and Geographic Region, 2009 (1

Sex 

Current

Asthma

24,566,689

Figure 3: Percentage Distribution of Current Asthma by 

Male

10,325,353

Female 42.0%

14,241,336

58.0%

5-17

5,778,750

23.5%

18-44

8,367,657

34.1%

45-64

6,181,748

25.2%

Race 

Source: National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 2009

Note:(1) Current Prevalence is defined as answering yes to "Have you EVER been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had ast

have asthma?"

NonHispanic 

White

16,253,548

66.2%

NonHispanic 

Black

4,297,353

17.5%

Non-Hispanic 

Other

1,018,815

4.1%

Hispanic

2,996,973

12.2%

Northea

4,863,88

19.8%

Midwe

6,384,5

26.0%

South

8,027,116

32.7%

West

5,291,176

21.5%
Age, Ethnic Origin and Geographic Region, 2009 (1

Sex 

Asthma

Attacks

12,823,621

Figure 4: Percentage Distribution of Asthma Attacks by 

Male

5,198,543

Female 40.5%

7,625,078

59.5%

5-17

3,101,697

24.2%

18-44

4,484,011

35.0%

45-64

3,192,957

24.9%

Race 

Source: National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 2009

Note:(1) Attack prevalence is defined as answering yes to "Have you EVER been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had asthm

12 months have you had an episode of asthma or an asthma attack?"

NonHispanic 

White

8,339,631

65.0%

NonHispanic 

Black

2,169,485

16.9%

Non-Hispanic 

Other

673,131

5.2%

Hispanic

1,641,374

12.8%

Northeas

2,443,81

19.1%

Midwe

3,108,3

24.2% South 4,437,210

34.6%

West

2,834,278

22.1%
Among Adults by State, 2009 (1)

2009 7.6% 7.8%2008 9.0% 8.8%2007 10.8% 9.9%2006 7.5% 9.9%2005 7.8% 11.0%2004 8.2% 9.1%2003 9.3% 10.0%

9.8% 7.8%

8.7% 7.7%7.1% 8.1%6.9% 6.4%9.3% 8.0%8.3% 9.8%9.0% 7.8%9.1% 8.8%6.8% 8.8%8.5% 9.7%10.2% 8.9%6.3% 8.4%

Figure 5: Self-Reported Current Asthma Prevalence (%

8.8%

8.2%

8.0%

8.9%

8.3%

8.1%

9.0%

7.8%

11.0%

8.8%

9.5%

7.7%

7.6%

8.5%

7.8%

9.8%

6.8% 9.1%

6.6%

10.0%

9.0% 9.9% 9.1%

10.2%

7 8%

9.7%

8.8%

9.8%

10.2%

10.8%9.1%10.8%10.0%6.6%7.5%9.5%8.1%7.6%9.0%10.2%7.7%8.6%9.8%

Source: CDC. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Note: (1) Answering "YES" to "Have you EVER been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you had asthma?" and "Do you st

8.2%

8.4%

7.1%

7.5% 7.6% 6.9%

6.3% 6.4%

8.6% 10.8%

9.3%

9.0%

8.1%

7.8%

7.8%

7.5%

2009
Figure 6: Estimated Current Prevalence (%) in Children, by State

NA NA6.9%‡ 5.7%

π

8.2%μ 9.4%μNA 10.0%μ6.6%

π 5.6%μ

NA 10.3%

π

12.0%

π 11.0%

π

13.9%

π NA

13.5%

π NA

NA NA9.9%

π 8.2%

π

11.2%

π 7.3%

π

4.6%

π 10.1%

π

9.3%

π 8.3%

π

9.8%

π 6.8%

π

4.8%

π 8.5%

π

8.3%

π 6.9%

π

9.5%μ 6.0%μ9.4%

π

9 4%μ

6.8%

π

NA

7.3%

π

6.0%

μ

4.6%

π

6.4%

π

6.9%

π

6.6%

π

5.6%

μ

5.7%

π

10.2%

μ

NA

5.2%

π

8.3%

π

8.3%

π

10.0%

π

10.3%

π 4.8%

π

7.0%†

8.1%

π

9.3%

π

9.4%

μ

9.8%

π

NA

9.5%

μ

NA

6.9%

π

8.5%

π

10.1%

π

8.6%

9.4%μ11.9%

π

NA8.1%

π

7.0%† † 2006 † 2006

10.4%

π ‡ 2007 ‡ 2007

10.2%μ μ 2008 μ 20086.4%

π

π 2009 

π 2009

5.2%

π θ 2010

6.9%

π

φ 2011

8.6%μ

σ 2012

9.1%

π α 2013

7.6%μ10.0%

π

Source: CDC. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2009Notes: 2) Most recent available data for each state is shown. See legend to determine year. NA - Not Available 1) Answering "YES" to "Have you EVER been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you had asthma?" and "Do you still ha

NA

NA

10.4%

π NA 9.9%

π

9.4%

π

8.2%

π

7.6%

μ

8.2%

μ

11.2%

π

6.9%‡

NA

NA NA

LA

Y
Figure 7: Asthma - First-Listed Hospital Discharge Rate per 10,00

by Age, 1979-2006 (1,2)

10.015.020.025.030.035.040.0

Rate per 10,000 Population

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

<15 19.8 24.2 25.0 29.3 26.4 29.0 27.8 30.3 28.4 31.0 31.2 30.8 33.9 34.4 28.0 29.5 36.7 33.8 35.8 27.7 31.5 33.6 3015-44 9.5 9.5 10.6 9.7 10.1 9.9 11.1 10.8 9.8 9.6 11.0 10.3 10.9 10.0 10.9 10.6 11.4 11.1 9.6 8.6 10.0 9.1 845-64 19.1 22.7 23.4 22.1 26.7 22.8 21.5 22.0 20.4 20.3 19.0 18.2 18.2 16.1 19.0 15.7 16.7 16.4 15.9 16.2 15.9 13.7 1465+ 27.0 32.7 28.2 30.4 34.2 37.4 34.1 33.7 33.8 36.8 29.9 32.4 28.5 23.6 26.6 22.9 23.0 17.4 19.2 17.7 21.3 19.6 21Total 15.7 18.0 18.4 18.9 19.8 19.8 19.5 19.9 18.8 19.6 19.3 19.1 19.6 18.3 18.3 17.4 19.5 17.9 17.9 15.5 17.4 16.7 16

2) Because these estimates are based on a sample, they may differ from figures that would be obtained from a census of the population. Ea

estimate of the true population value and subject to sampling variability. Source: National Center for Health Statistics. National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1979-2009. Notes: 1) Data from 1989-2009 may not be comparable to earlier years due to a redesign of the survey. 

0.05.0

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000
Figure 8: Asthma - First-Listed Hospital Discharge Rate per 10,000 

Race, 1988-2006 (1,2)

10 015.020.025.030.035.040.045.0

Rate per 10,000 Population

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

###

White 14.4 13.9 12.7 12.8 10.2 11.5 10.5 11.6 10.8 11.8 10.0 10.4 10.3 10.1 10.5 Black 39.4 39.2 38.3 38.9 42.8 32.3 38.6 42.7 40.1 35.5 32.2 35.5 32.9 31.7 36.0 Other 36.1 24.2 19.8 22.9 23.8 20.1 26.0 21.4 27.6 30.7 21.0 31.2 10.3 12.2 9.9 

Notes: Source: National Center for Health Statistics. National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1979-2006. 1) Between 1988 and 2006, the number of discharges not reporting race increased dramatically. It appears that hospital disharges in Whites munderestimated, particularly in later years. For this reason, comparisons between races should be made with caution. 2) Rates shown here may differ from previously published rates due to adjustments made to the populations used. Because these estimates adiffer from figures that would be obtained from a census of the population. Each data point reported is an estimate of the true population value 

variability. 

0.05.0

10.0

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002