National Asthma Control Program
Program in Brief
What is the public health problem?
- In 1999, an estimated 26.7 million people in the United States
reported having been diagnosed with asthma. An estimated 10.5 of the
26.7 million reported having had an asthma episode/attack in the
previous 12 months.
- Each year, there are between 400,000 and 500,000 hospitalizations,
14 million missed school days, and 100 million days of restricted
activity due to asthma.
- In 1998, the cost of asthma to the U.S. economy was estimated to
be $12.7 billion.
What has CDC accomplished?
Currently, there is no way to prevent the initial
onset of asthma, and there is no cure. However, people who have asthma
can still lead quality, productive lives if they control their asthma.
Asthma can be controlled by following a medical management plan and by
avoiding contact with environmental "triggers" such as dust mites, furry
pets, and tobacco smoke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) created its National Asthma Control Program in
1999 to help reduce the burden of asthma through effective control of
the disease. The goals of the program are to reduce the number
of deaths, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, school or work
days missed, and limitations on activity due to asthma. The
program consists of three components:
- Tracking: continually collecting and analyzing
data to understand the "who, what, and where" of asthma and to assess
progress toward asthma control goals
- Interventions: ensuring that sound scientific
information is translated into public health practices and programs to
reduce the burden of asthma
- Partnerships: ensuring that all stakeholders have
the opportunity to be involved in developing, implementing, and
evaluating local asthma control programs
With appropriations of $35.2 million in fiscal year
2002, CDC’s National Asthma Control Program funded the following to be
conducted in 2003: 11 asthma tracking projects, 48 asthma interventions,
and 33 asthma partnership projects. Through its adolescent and school
health program, CDC also funded six urban school districts, one state
education agency, and six national nongovernmental organizations to
support and address asthma control within a coordinated school health
program.
What are the next steps?
CDC will (1) continue to work with state and local
health departments and other partners to improve asthma tracking; (2)
continue to provide scientific leadership for identifying and tailoring
unique, individual solutions for controlling asthma; and (3) assist a
greater number of partner organizations in implementing and evaluating
programs for reducing the incidence and severity of asthma.
For more information on the program, visit
http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/default.htm
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