The just-released Asthma Burden Report for 2012 shows that 9 percent of adults and 7 percent of children have asthma in Utah.
Every day a statewide average of 20 people struggle with asthma attacks potentially so severe that they need treatment at a hospital.
What does this mean for the TriCounty Health Department regional residents of Daggett, Duchesne and Uintah counties?
Lost work days, lost school days, and lost lives –— the cost of asthma to our communities is cumulative.
On Thursday the TriCounty Asthma Coalition met to look into the report numbers in relation to local asthma treatment numbers.
Findings indicate that Uintah Basin asthma sufferers are twice as likely to be hospitalized; 57 basin residents per 10,000 people in population versus the state average 25 people.
Current air quality findings suggest work-related asthma losses in labor will persist until improvements are made.
“The more industry you have, the more problems you are going to have even among mild asthmatics,” said Dr. Daniel Kwak, Dinosaurland Pediatrics, Ashley Regional Medical Center.
From 2001 to 2010, the Burden Report indicates that total charges for asthma hospitalization in Utah has doubled from $8 to $16 million.
In the interim, the cost of asthma in emergency health care continue to rise. Vernal Express
