Children ages 1 to 3 years make up 20 percent of all asthma-related emergency department visits, according to research from a University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital (UH Rainbow) study, which also estimated the total asthma-related ED charges across the U.S. total $2.6 billion, about $1,300 per visit. The study was presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference.
In addition, 55 percent of all ED visits due to asthma occurred in boys. Fall months (September, October and November) had a relatively high proportion of visits compared to other times of the year, according to researchers.
“This study looked at more than 2.3 million ED visits among children with asthma, and we identified some interesting trends that give a baseline to find better ways to help children with asthma control this very treatable disease,” said Aparna Roy, MD, MPH, lead author of the study and resident at UH Rainbow and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
“These findings reinforce the need to educate parents, especially those with children at higher risk, about how to manage the disease on a day-to-day basis to avoid costly emergency visits.”
