The State Department of Health and the Washington Asthma Initiative's report, The Burden of Asthma in Washington State, describes the importance of asthma as a public health issue in Washington State. The CDC has identified Washington's asthma prevalence as among the highest in the nation, and the proportion of the state population with asthma is steadily increasing.

"The Asthma Burden Report provides Washington residents with the most precise estimates ever regarding the prevalence and impact of asthma on our state's children and adults," said Dr. Greg Redding, WAI member and Chief of Pulmonary Medicine at Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center in Seattle. "It underscores just how common and costly this condition is in our state, exceeding the national average. The report also provides planners with the detail needed to design effective strategies to prevent acute asthma, reduce deaths from asthma, and diagnose and treat asthma more effectively for the one in ten Washingtonians with this disease."

Key Findings:

• On average, 1 in 10 women and 1 in 14 men in Washington currently have asthma
• Between 1999 and 2003, the number of adults with asthma in Washington increased by 30%, and for youth by 15%
• About 9% of Washington adults (400,000 people) and 7-10% of Washington middle/high school-aged children (120,000 children) currently have asthma.
• Nationally, only 7.9% of adults and 5.9% of youth currently have asthma.
• More than 5000 people are hospitalized each year from asthma in Washington.
• Asthma costs more than $400 million every year in medical expenditures and lost productivity for the state.
• During the past year, 20% of kids with asthma missed 5 or more days of school due to their condition.
• Kids with more severe symptoms are less likely to have high academic achievement than kids with few symptoms or no asthma.

"Implementing the Washington State Asthma Plan is the next step in assuring better asthma management and awareness at school for children with asthma," said Dr. Gail Shapiro of Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center. "Over the next 10 years, state and local asthma partners will be working together on this plan to improve the quality of life for both children and adults with asthma in Washington State."

The Burden Report served as the foundation for the Washington State Asthma Plan, a strategic plan outlining the steps that Washington State will take to reduce the burden of asthma.

• Executive Summary 
• Burden of Asthma Report 
• Asthma Burden Report Presentation Slides(PowerPoint)
• Asthma Hospitalizations & Prevalence by County (figures & tables) 
• Burden Report Appendix (technical notes)

The Burden Report was developed by the Department of Health in close coordination with the Washington Asthma Initiative, including the Data and Surveillance Workgroup.