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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce asthma attacks — RD‑04 Data Methodology and Measurement

On this page:  About the National Data  |  Methodology  |  History

About the National Data

Data

Data Source:  National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS

Baseline: 41.5 percent of persons with current asthma had an asthma attack in 2019

Target: 35.1 percent

Numerator
Number of people with current asthma who report having an asthma attack in the past 12 months.
Denominator
Number of people who report having current asthma.
Target-setting method
Projection
Target-setting method details
Linear trend fitted using weighted least squares and a projection at the 50 percent prediction interval.
1
Target-setting method justification
Trend data were evaluated for this objective. Using historical data points, a trend line was fitted using weighted least squares, and the trend was projected into the next decade. This method was used because three or more comparable data points were available, the projected value was within the range of possible values, and a projection at the 50 percent prediction interval was selected because it was a statistically significant improvement from the baseline. Meeting this target may result in a higher but achievable decline in asthma attacks that may help meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) aspirational goal of reducing asthma-related emergency department visits in children.

Methodology

Questions used to obtain the national baseline data

(For additional information, please visit the data source page linked above.)

From the 2019 National Health Interview Survey:

Numerator:

For persons under age 18 years:

DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, has {sample child's name had an episode of asthma or an asthma attack
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know

For persons aged 18 years and over:

DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, have you had an episode of asthma or an asthma attack?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know
Numerator and Denominator:

For persons under age 18 years:

Has a doctor or other health professional EVER told you that {sample child's name} had asthma?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know
Does {sample child's name} still have asthma?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know

For persons aged 18 years and over:

Have you EVER been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had asthma?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know
Do you still have asthma?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know

Methodology notes

Participants who had ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma and reported that they still have asthma were considered to have current asthma. Includes persons with at least one asthma attack in the past year.

Age-adjustment notes

This indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

  • Total: <18, 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Sex: <18, 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Race/Ethnicity: <18, 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Educational Attainment: 25-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Family Income (percent poverty threshold): <18, 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Country of Birth: <18, 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Disability Status: 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Geographic Location: <18, 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Health Insurance Status: <18, 18-44, 45-54, 55-64
  • Marital Status: 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Sexual Orientation: 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
  • Veteran Status: 20-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+

History

Revision History
  • Revised. 

    In 2021, due to the 2019 NHIS redesign, the baseline was revised from 45.2% in 2017 to 41.5% in 2019. The target was revised from 38.1% to 35.1% using the original target setting method.
  • Revised. 

    In 2024, the following categories were recalculated with the use of a newer variable: Never married, American Indian or Alaska Native only, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only, 2 or more races only, Not Hispanic or Latino American Indian or Alaska Native only, Not Hispanic or Latino Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only, Not Hispanic or Latino 2 or more races only. Estimates from data year 2022 or earlier may vary slightly from estimates previously reported. The baseline, baseline year and target were not affected.

1. Because Healthy People 2030 objectives have a desired direction (e.g., increase or decrease), the confidence level of a one-sided prediction interval can be used as an indication of how likely a target will be to achieve based on the historical data and fitted trend.