The mission of the program is to reduce asthma associated morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life for Connecticut residents living with asthma.

 

Asthma in Connecticut

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system that is characterized by reversible obstruction of the airways and airway hyper-responsiveness to a variety of stimuli. In Connecticut, it has been found that the following population subgroups are disproportionately affected by asthma: children, females, Hispanics, non-Hispanic Blacks, and residents of the state's five largest cities.

Statistics:

• Among Connecticut residents surveyed in 2018, 62,400 (9.7%) children and 290,300 (10.3%) adults suffered from asthma.
• In 2017, 7.9% of US children and 9.1% of US adults had asthma.
• Asthma is the single most avoidable cause of hospitalization, yet it is consistently one of the most common admitting diagnoses in pediatrics.
• In 2018, the age-adjusted rate for asthma hospitalization was 7.2 per 10,000 populations (about 2,400 hospitalizations) and for asthma emergency department (ED) visit was 57.9 per 10,000 populations (about 18,550 ED visits).
• In 2018, Connecticut incurred $102 million acute care charges due to asthma as a primary diagnosis. 
• Of the $102 million asthma acute care charges, $56 million were for hospitalizations and $46 million were for emergency department (ED) visits.
• Of the $102 million, $74 million (73%) were charged to public funds (Medicaid or Medicare).
• Residents from the five largest cities (Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, and Waterbury) account for 18% of Connecticut’s total population, yet they account for nearly half (44% or $43 million) of the $102 million asthma acute care charges in 2018.