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Asthma hospitalizations and readmissions among children and young adults--Wisconsin, 1991-1995
Insights
Asthma hospitalizations are rising in young people. A study found that 18% of asthma admissions for individuals under 25 in Wisconsin were readmissions, indicating a need to address chronic asthma management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Public Health Surveillance
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Asthma is a leading cause of preventable pediatric hospitalizations.
- National surveillance from 1980-1993 indicated rising asthma admission rates for individuals under 25.
- Attribution of rising rates to new admissions, readmissions, or both required further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the number of individuals with asthma severe enough to necessitate hospitalization.
- To characterize admission and readmission patterns for asthma patients.
- To analyze data from the Wisconsin Asthma Surveillance System (WASS).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Wisconsin Asthma Surveillance System (WASS).
- Focus on Wisconsin residents aged under 25 years.
- Examination of hospital admission and readmission data for asthma during 1991-1995.
Main Results:
- An average of 18% of all asthma admissions among Wisconsin residents aged under 25 were readmissions.
- This highlights a significant proportion of recurrent hospitalizations for asthma in this age group.
- The findings provide insights into the burden of severe asthma requiring hospital care.
Conclusions:
- Readmissions constitute a substantial component of asthma-related hospitalizations in young individuals.
- Effective management strategies are crucial to reduce recurrent asthma exacerbations and hospitalizations.
- The study underscores the importance of ongoing asthma surveillance and intervention programs.
Abstract:
Asthma is the most frequent reason for preventable hospital admissions among children. During 1980-1993, national asthma surveillance demonstrated increasing rates of hospital admission for persons aged <25 years. These increasing rates could be attributed to an increase in either the number of persons admitted, readmitted, or both. To determine the number of persons with asthma sufficiently severe to require hospitalization and to characterize admission/readmission patterns for persons with asthma, the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (WDHFS) analyzed data from the Wisconsin Asthma Surveillance System (WASS). This report summarizes the findings from WASS, which indicate that, during 1991-1995, an annual average of 18% of all asthma admissions among Wisconsin residents aged <25 years were readmissions.