Updated data on asthma hospitalizations for children in Kentucky has been posted to the KIDS COUNT Data Center. This chronic illness, which is the most common among children in the United States, not only negatively impacts a child’s physical, but emotional and psychological development as well.

The number of child inpatient hospitalizations due to asthma has declined in Kentucky from 7,087 in 2000-2002 to 6,837 in 2009-2011. During those same timeframes, the rate has decreased from 24 hospitalizations per 10,000 children in Kentucky to 22 per 10,000 children. County rates vary greatly across the Commonwealth for 2009-2011, from less than 6 asthma hospitalizations per 10,000 children in Boone, Campbell, Kenton and Montgomery Counties to more than 100 per 10,000 children in Bell, Fulton and Johnson Counties.

The quality of the air we breathe is one contributor to asthma attacks. Air quality is negatively affected by vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and other types of fine particulate matter. Given the environmental context associated with asthma, communities play a pivotal role in combating this chronic disease. One innovative approach to better understanding the environmental causes of asthma is a new public-private venture in Louisville called Asthmapolis. Five hundred people across the city will replace their usual asthma inhalers with new ones that will track the date, time and location for each use.

KIDS COUNT Data Center

The KIDS COUNT Data Center provides information across states and for Kentucky counties and school districts on many measures of child well-being, including: economic well-being, education, health, and safety. Users can easily rank, map, graph trends over time, and add customized information to their own websites. Users can also view and share data quickly and easily anytime and anywhere with the enhanced mobile site for smart phones.

Looking for more information? Research and recommendations for improving outcomes for the Kentucky KIDS COUNT indicators can be found in the annual Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Books here.