Control Asthma
The Issue
More than 24 million Americans have asthma, affecting one in 12 children and one in 14 adults. Asthma is particularly prevalent among low-income populations. Further, African-Americans are two to three times more likely to die from asthma than any other racial or ethnic group.
Asthma accounts for more than 439,000 hospitalizations, 1.6 million emergency department (ED) visits, and 10.5 million physician office visits annually — costing private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and other sources an estimated $62.8 billion in 2009.
CDC’s 6|18 Initiative Success Story
Plan an Evidence-Based Intervention
Following are asthma control interventions identified by the CDC as having a proven evidence base for improving health outcomes and controlling health care costs:
- Use the 2007 National Asthma Education and Prevention Program as clinical practice guidelines.
- Promote strategies that improve access and adherence to asthma medications and devices.
- Expand access to intensive self-management education by licensed professionals or qualified lay health workers for patients whose asthma is not well-controlled with medical management.
- Expand access to home visits by licensed professionals or qualified lay health workers to provide intensive self-management education and reduce home asthma triggers for patients whose asthma is not well-controlled with medical management and self-management education.
Evidence Summary: Control Asthma
Download the CDC’s evidence summary that outlines key cost and health information for payers and providers, as well as demonstrated outcomes for each of the above interventions.
Get Started with CDC’s 6|18 Initiative
Explore Implementation Resources
The following resources can help payers, state officials, and providers to implement high-opportunity asthma control interventions. Does your state/program have resources to share? Send an email to 618@chcs.org.
See also CDC’s asthma program web page.
