Child Asthma

Child Asthma measures the number of children age 19 and under who live in the St. Louis region and visit the emergency room to treat complications from asthma. In 2015, there were 6,912 emergency room visits made by children for issues related to asthma across the four-county region. This represents about 3.9% of all child emergency room visits in 2015.

Child Asthma Indicator Scores

City of
St. Louis

1

St. Louis
County

2

St. Charles
County

27

St. Clair
County

36

Data Source: Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Missouri Public Health Information Management System (MOPHIMS), 2015; Illinois Center for Health Statistics, 2016

Data Note: It is important to note that the data reported is a count of emergency room visits, not visits by unique children. rates for this indicator are provided by the Missouri DHSS and are age-adjusted based on 2000 standard population. Data for St. Clair County includes only children ages 6 to 17.

What does this score mean?

A score of 100 represents racial equity, meaning there are no racial disparities in outcomes between black and white populations. The lower the Equity Score, the greater the disparity.

For Child Asthma, a score of 100 — a score reflecting racial equity — would mean black and white children are equally likely to have asthma. It is important to note that for this indicator, equity is not our only goal; we also want to improve outcomes for all.

WHAT DOES THIS ANALYSIS MEAN?

Black children are more than five times as likely as white children to visit emergency rooms for asthma-related complications. Black children visited the emergency room for asthma 5,284 times in 2015, while in that same time period, white children visited the emergency room 1,302 times. This translates to a rate of 34.51 emergency room visits per 1,000 black children, compared to 6.81 visits per 1,000 white children.

If asthma rates were equitable, black children would have had

  • 1,622 fewer emergency room visits for asthma in the City of St. Louis,
  • 103 fewer emergency room visits for asthma in St. Charles County,
  • 339 fewer emergency room visits for asthma in St. Clair County, and
  • 2,518 fewer emergency room visits for asthma in St. Louis County.

WHY DOES CHILD ASTHMA MATTER?

WHICH CALLS TO ACTION FROM THE FERGUSON COMMISSION’s REPORT ARE LINKED WITH THIS INDICATOR?

While the Ferguson Commission’s report does not directly reference child asthma, it calls for “supporting the whole child.” Where children live affects their health, which affects their academic performance and behavior in school. The report also calls for the establishment of school-based health centers to improve childhood physical and mental health.

    Questions for Further Investigation:

    • Why is there a racial disparity in Child Asthma?
    • What can St. Louis do to reduce racial disparities in Child Asthma?
    • What initiatives are currently underway to reduce racial disparities in Child Asthma?

    How can I learn more about this issue?

    To learn more about initiatives in Missouri to reduce asthma, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issued a report in February 2017 in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Missouri Asthma Prevention and Control Program: Surveillance Update.

    The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, St. Louis Chapter (AAFA-STL), a United Way partner agency, has been a leading resource for those with asthma and allergies in the St. Louis community. AAFA-STL’s medical assistance program, BREATH (formerly Project Concern), provides uninsured and underinsured children with life-saving asthma and allergy medications, equipment, education, and support.

    Child Asthma Data

    Emergency room visits for asthma per 1,000 children age 19 and under

     AllBlackWhiteDisparity RatioEquity Score
    Emergency Room Visits for Asthma
    2,0481,804102
    Asthma ER Visits per 1,000 Children
    28.7742.443.9310.799 to 11

    Data Source: Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Missouri Public Health Information Management System (MOPHIMS), 2015

    Emergency room visits for asthma per 1,000 children age 19 and under

     AllBlackWhiteDisparity RatioEquity Score
    Emergency Room Visits for Asthma
    3,5662,807587
    Population
    247,63077,177156,600
    Asthma ER Visits per 1,000 Children
    14.436.373.759.699 to 12

    Data Source: Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Missouri Public Health Information Management System (MOPHIMS), 2015

    Emergency room visits for asthma per 1,000 children age 19 and under

     AllBlackWhiteDisparity RatioEquity Score
    Emergency Room Visits for Asthma
    601136417
    Population
    102,5337,30091,315
    Asthma ER Visits per 1,000 Children
    5.8618.634.574.077 to 127

    Data Source: Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Missouri Public Health Information Management System (MOPHIMS), 2015

    Emergency room visits for asthma per 1,000 children age 6-17

     AllBlackWhiteDisparity RatioEquity Score
    Emergency Room Visits for Asthma
    -537196
    Population
    ---
    Asthma ER Visits per 1,000 Children
    -40.615.02.706 to 136

    Data Source: IDPH Illinois Center for Health Statistics, 2016