Asthma Data

Purpose

To determine trends in asthma among Rhode Islanders.

Key Information

The prevalence and healthcare use of adults and children with current asthma.

Related Health Topics

Rhode Island Numbers

  • Adult lifetime asthma prevalence trends show modest changes over the last ten years. In this time, lifetime asthma prevalence of Rhode Island adults remained consistently higher than national lifetime asthma prevalence trends.

  • Similar to adult lifetime asthma prevalence, adult current asthma prevalence trends show moderate changes over the last ten years. Adult current asthma prevalence increased slightly both statewide and nationally in 2021 from 2012. Rhode Island rates for adult current asthma prevalence remain consistently higher than national rates for the same.

  • The lifetime prevalence of asthma for children has decreased over the past ten years nationally and within Rhode Island. National and state trends have shifted over the past decade, and in 2021, RI child lifetime asthma prevalence was lower than national lifetime prevalence at 9.9% and 10.2%, respectively.
  • Similar to child lifetime prevalence, current child asthma prevalence has decreased over the past ten years across the US and within Rhode Island. Over this time, Rhode Island rates have been consistently higher than national rates, but in 2021 the difference between the two decreased.
  • Inpatient hospitalization rates where asthma was the primary diagnosis decreased in children and adults between 2015 and 2021 (excluding 2020). Increased hospitalization rates in children in 2022 may be a return to pre-pandemic trends and remains lower than the 2015 hospitalization rate in children.
  • ED visit rates where asthma was the primary diagnosis have decreased overall from 2015 to 2022 for both children and adults. Adult rates have mostly steadily declined with small increases in 2019 and 2021. ED rates in children have shown a sharp increase from a 2020 drop, which may be a return to pre-pandemic trends.
  • The rate of ED visits by insurance type were similar before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island. Children insured under Medicaid have the highest rate of ED visits as compared to other insurance types.