28756082

PMC5760447

Background

Asthma morbidity is increased among older adults, especially older adult women. Interventions to improve asthma control in this population are not well-described.

Objective

Identify risk factors (including modifiable factors) associated with asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency department or urgent care center visits (ED/UCV) among older adults. A secondary objective was to investigate sex differences in variables relevant to asthma control.

Methods

Data were obtained from 14,076 older adults ≥65 years with active asthma participating in the 2006–2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey (a random-digit dialed survey) in 40 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, representative of >2.6 million persons. Weighted, adjusted logistic regression was conducted.

Results

≥1 asthma-related hospitalizations in the past year were reported by 5.7% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]=5.0–6.4%) of participants; 10.6% (95% CI=9.7–11.5%) reported ≥1 asthma-related ED/UCV. Compared to older adults without asthma-related hospitalizations, adjusted odds were higher among those with ≥1 asthma-related hospitalization for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary artery disease, depression, cockroaches or mold in the home, and cost barriers to asthma-related health care or medication. All these factors, except for cockroaches, were associated with asthma-related ED/UCV. Compared to males, adjusted odds were higher among females for COPD, depression, obesity, and cost barriers to asthma-related health care or medication.

Conclusions

Among older adults, asthma-related hospitalizations and ED/UCV were associated with clinical comorbidities, mold in the home, and financial barriers to asthma-related health care. Interventions addressing modifiable factors could reduce asthma morbidity among older adults.

CDC Public Access

CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States