Asthma Initiative of Michigan (AIM)
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Asthma in Michigan

Important Terms
Prevalence of Asthma
Asthma Control
Asthma Management
Work-Related Asthma
Asthma Emergency Department Visits
Asthma Hospitalization

Asthma Death
Asthma Burden for Children Covered by Medicaid
Cost of Asthma
Healthy People 2010
Methods
Michigan Fact Sheets and Reports

Asthma Statistics by County


Asthma Death

Good asthma management reduces symptoms and improves quality of life. Failure to maintain good control of the disease results in a higher risk of death. Death due to asthma is a rare and preventable event. It indicates problems with access to care or disease management.

  • There are about 131 deaths due to asthma in Michigan each year. [1]
  • The asthma death rate in Michigan is 12.6 per 1,000,000 people. [1]
  • The rate of death for blacks is 3 times higher than that for whites. [1]
  • Adults 65 years and older have the highest asthma death rate compared to other age groups. [1]

Average Number and Rates of Death due to Asthma, Michigan, All Ages,
2004-2006 [1]

Group Average Number of Deaths per Year Rate per 1,000,000 People
Sex*
Male 49 10.3
Female 82 14.3
Race*
White 87 9.7
Black 41 28.7
Age
0 to 4 <1 **
5 to 14 8 5.6
15 to 34 18 6.7
35 to 64 50 12.4
65 and Older 54 42.9
Total* 131 12.6
*Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population. Michigan population estimates for 2005 are used in calculations.
**Total count of deaths <5 and >0.

Special Focus: Asthma Management Characteristics for Children
(2-18 Years) who Died Due to Asthma

The Michigan Department of Community Health, in conjunction with Michigan State University, is conducting a special surveillance project, the Asthma Mortality Review Project, to review asthma deaths in Michigan and determine the factors contributing to the death. The following describes the asthma management characteristics for child asthma deaths, 2002-2006.

Asthma Management Characteristics for Child Asthma Deaths,
Age 2-18 Years, Michigan, 2002-2006 [2]
  Children, 2-18 Years
(60 Deaths)
Exposure to Triggers
Current Smoker 12%
Smoker in the Home 46%
Pets in the Home 47%
Routine Asthma Management
Taking Only Inhaled Corticosteroids 40%
Taking Only Oral Corticosteroids 8%
Taking No Corticosteroids 29%
Ever Seen by a Specialist 73%
Ever Had Pulmonary Function Testing 55%
Regularly Used a Peak Flow Meter 62%
Had an Asthma Action Plan 33%
Asthma Hospitalization
Ever in Lifetime 84%
In the Year Prior to Death 52%
Asthma Emergency Department Visits
Ever in Lifetime 86%
In the Year Prior to Death 68%
Average Number in the Year Prior to Death 3

Sources:
  1. Michigan Death File, 2004-2006.
  2. 2006 Annual Report on Asthma Deaths Among Individuals in Michigan, Asthma Mortality Review Project.

For more information about asthma deaths in Michigan, please review:

Last Updated 03/09/2009