Agency News and Notes

Oregon and Vermont show fewest hospitalizations for children with asthma

Oregon and Vermont reported the nation's lowest rates of avoidable hospitalizations for asthma in children aged 2 to 17 in 2006, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Oregon reported the lowest rate of potentially avoidable hospitalizations, at 44 per 100,000 children, followed by Vermont at 46 admissions per 100,000 children.

Other States that reported low rates of potentially avoidable asthma hospitalizations per 100,000 children aged 2 to 17 are:

• New Hampshire—62.
• Iowa—66.
• Utah—74.
• Nebraska—75.
• 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 such as smoke and environmental allergens, use of controller medications, patient and parent education, and assessment and monitoring.

This AHRQ News and Numbers is based on information from the 2009 AHRQ State Snapshots (http://statesnapshots.ahrq.gov/snaps09/index.jsp), 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.

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