The data for this indicator has been collected from the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Office of Health Care Statistics, Quality, Analysis, and Reporting annually since 2005. DPH indicates that asthma visits to the emergency room is a key indicator that the child’s asthma is not well controlled. Connecticut’s baseline trend has increased 20% as of 2014, the latest reporting year.

Uncontrolled asthma, which leads to emergency department visits, can impact a child and their family in a variety of ways. School absenteeism can result in an increased risk of academic failure, diminished opportunities for socialization and for participating in sporting activities; resulting in behavioral and emotional problems, obesity and reduced self-esteem. School-age children in Connecticut missed approximately 59,814 days from school or day care each year due to poorly controlled asthma. Of all students with asthma, African-American and Hispanic students have been found to have a 40% and 30%, respectively, more chance of being classified as having moderate to severe persistent asthma. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology reported, “…patients with very poorly controlled asthma incurred an average of $7,846 in costs compared with $3,766 for well-controlled asthma. Direct costs of care (labor, supplies and equipment) were also 50% higher for families with children with poorly controlled asthma compared to children with whose asthma was controlled.”

One of Connecticut’s primary asthma related programs is a home-based asthma education and environmental program, “Putting on AIRS” (Asthma Indoor Risk Strategies), offered statewide to children whose asthma is poorly controlled. From 2010-2014, there were 320 participants who received home visits and follow-up calls at 3 and 6 months. The percent of participants with very poorly controlled asthma decreased significantly from 62% at initial visit to 19% at six months. Consequently, the mean number of unscheduled acute care visits in the past six months decreased significantly by 87%, a net savings of $26,720 per 100 participants.

On a legislative level, local and regional boards of education have been required since 2003 to provide a chronic disease assessment, which includes asthma, to children enrolling in public schools at certain grade levels and report on an annual basis to the Public Health and Education Committees.

• Department of Public Health
• African American Affairs Commission
• Connecticut Association for School Based Health Centers
• Connecticut Academy of Pediatrics

• Advocate for mandatory written asthma treatment plans for all children with asthma in schools and in licensed day care centers.
• Promote the use of evidence-based asthma guidelines by primary care clinicians, dentists, and other dental and medical professionals.
• Conduct a public education campaign, in partnership with local news stations, on the effects of poor air quality days on health.
• Implements evidence-based, comprehensive asthma programs and smoking prevention/cessation programs.
• Encourage pediatricians to discuss smoking cessation/prevention with parents.

Strategies contributed by staff from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH).

Dept. of Public Health, Office of Health Care Statistics, Quality, Analysis, & Reporting

http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3137&q=398480...