Oregon and Vermont Show Fewest Hospitalizations for Children With Asthma

AHRQ News and Numbers, September 1, 2010

Oregon and Vermont reported the Nation's lowest rates of avoidable hospitalizations for asthma in children ages 2 to 17 in 2006, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Oregon reported the lowest rate of potentially avoidable hospitalizations for children, at 44 per 100,000 population. Vermont followed closely with 46 potentially avoidable asthma admissions for children per 100,000 population.

Other States that reported low rates of potentially avoidable asthma hospitalizations for children ages 2 to 17 per 100,000 population are: New Hampshire—62, Iowa—66, Utah—74, Nebraska—75, and Maine—78.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that is controllable with appropriate outpatient treatment including: control of the risk factors that can cause attacks, use of controller medications, patient and parent education, and assessment and monitoring.

This AHRQ News and Numbers is based on information from the AHRQ State Snapshots, which provides State-specific health care quality information, including strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. The goal is to help State officials and their public- and private-sector partners better understand health care quality and disparities in their State.

For other information, or to speak with an AHRQ data expert, please contact Bob Isquith at bob.isquith@ahrq.hhs.gov or call (301) 427-1539.