Asthma - The Office of Minority Health

Asthma Data/Statistics

The prevalence of asthma has increased in the general population over the past two decades. While deaths from asthma are relatively rare, the death rate for Puerto Ricans was 400% higher than the non-Hispanic White population, in 2003. Children have higher asthma rates than adults, and in particular, African American children have a 60% higher prevalence of asthma than White children.

Quick Facts

From 2003-2005, African American children had a death rate 7 times that of non-Hispanic White children.
African Americans had asthma-related emergency room visits 4.5 times more often than Whites in 2004.
American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 60% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma, in 2006.
Asian Americans generally have lower rates of asthma than the White population, but they had a 50% greater death rate in 2003.
Puerto Rican Americans have almost three times the asthma rate as compared to the overall Hispanic population.
Puerto Ricans report 2.5 times more asthma attacks per year than non-Hispanic Whites.
For statistics on African Americans and asthma, please click here

For statistics on American Indians/Alaska Natives and asthma, please click here

For statistics on Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and asthma, please click here

For statistics on Hispanic Americans and asthma, please click here

Last Modified: 04/14/2008 03:10:00 PM