pulmonary disorders
Asthma
Epidemiology
More than 25 million people in the US are affected. Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood, affecting about 6 million children in the US. It also occurs more frequently in non-Hispanic Blacks and Puerto Ricans. In the US, about 10,000 deaths occur annually as a result of asthma, and the mortality rate is declining ( Epidemiology references ). However, the death rate is 2 to 3 times higher for Blacks than for Whites. The mortality rate is higher for adults than children and is especially high in adults over 65. Asthma is among the leading causes of hospitalization in children and is a leading cause of school absenteeism ( The increase in asthma prevalence has been mirrored by an increase in obesity. Because of this association, obesity is now considered an important modifiable risk factor for asthma. Obesity often precedes the diagnosis of asthma. Key mediators implicated by observational and cross-sectional studies include leptin, adipokines, and serum Il-6. However, underlying mechanisms are not yet known. Multiple studies have shown decreases in asthma severity and exacerbations after weight loss ( Epidemiology references ). 1.Pate CA, Zahrn HS, Qin X, et al: Asthma Surveillance — United States, 2006–2018.MMWR Surveill Summ70(No. SS-5):1–32, 2021. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.ss7005a1 2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC Healthy Schools: Asthma. Updated June 14, 2021. Accessed January 21, 2022. 3.Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America: Cost of asthma on society. Accessed January 21, 2022. https://www.aafa.org/cost-of-asthma-on-society 4.Peters U, Dixon AE, Forno E: Obesity and asthma.J Allergy Clin Immunol141(4):1169–1179, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.02.004 