More people in upstate New York suffer from asthma. That's according to a new report by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.
The report finds one in nine adults upstate has asthma, a higher rate than the statewide average. Among adults ages 18 to 64, 11.6 percent suffer from asthmas compared to 9.7 percent statewide. Those 18 to 64 in the Finger Lakes region had the highest asthma prevalence. The Southern Tier region had the lowest prevalence.
Asthma is a chronic condition that can lead to crippling health problems, hospitalizations and even death. It causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. On average between 2005 and 2007, there were about 250 asthma-related deaths in New York. "It's important that people with asthma work with their health care provider to develop a plan for managing their condition," said Dr. Arthur Vercillo, regional president, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. "By taking the right medication, avoiding triggers and being able to recognize the symptoms and know what to do in the event of a sudden attack, asthma patients can live a normal life and avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room."
The Excellus report finds women, African Americans, those 18 to 24-years-old and people making less than $15,000 a year are more likely to have asthma. Older adults, ages 65 plus, were twice as likely to be hospitalized, but those 18 to 64 were more likely to visit the emergency room for treatment.
There is also a financial impact. The report find incremental direct medical costs for upstate New York adults with self-reported asthma was an estimated $793 million annually.
Read the full report here.
