Press Release
Lieutenant Governor Bolling Joins Virginia Department Of Health In Releasing The State's First Comprehensive Asthma Data Report
Bolling Also Announces Virginia's Participation In The National Lieutenant Governor's Association's "helping American's Breath Easier" Campaign
Thursday, June 14, 2007Richmond - Taking a breath is becoming increasingly harder for many Virginians. According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), asthma is a major public health problem of increasing concern.
Earlier today, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and the Virginia Department of Health released the first comprehensive data report on asthma ever published in Virginia. The news conference at Fairfield Court Elementary School in Richmond featured Lieutenant Governor Bolling, Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marilyn Tavenner, State Health Commissioner Dr. Robert B. Stroube, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Billy K. Cannaday.
"We have an obligation to do everything we can to help Virginians who suffer from asthma improve their quality of life and reduce unnecessary asthma related deaths," Lieutenant Governor Bolling said. "Hopefully, this report and our efforts will help serve as a useful tool to disseminate information to the public and help Virginians breath easier."
"Various state agencies, health care organizations and coalitions have been working to bring more attention to this chronic health problem that costs millions of dollars in medical care and hospitalization every year," added Secretary Tavenner.
In Virginia, asthma related hospitalizations cost $96 million in 2004, a 58 percent increase from 1999. "Many of those hospitalized were children under the age of 5," Commissioner Stroube said.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and nighttime or early morning coughing.
Some highlights from the comprehensive report on asthma in Virginia include:
* In 2004, 412,370 adults and 152,000 children in Virginia reported having asthma.
* Three of the top 50 areas for asthma prevalence in the United States are in Virginia: Norfolk, Richmond and Southwest Virginia.
* In 2004, 21% of all adults with asthma were forced to visit an emergency room for treatment. The average charge for an asthma hospitalization was $10,211, and Medicaid was the primary payer of 40% of all asthma hospitalization charges.
* Asthma does not affect all populations equally. Children and the elderly are more susceptible to the dangers of asthma, and the prevalence of asthma noticeably increases in women, minorities and lower income Virginians.
* Finally, an average of 113 people died each year in Virginia from asthma during 1999-2004. However, through increasing awareness, diagnosis, care and management of asthma these deaths can be avoided in the future.
Lieutenant Governor Bolling also announced his participation in the National Lieutenant Governor's Association asthma awareness campaign - "Helping Virginians Breath Easier." Virginia is one of fifteen states involved in the campaign. Over the next several months Lieutenant Governor Bolling will be distributing asthma action plans, wallet cards and bookmarks to health care providers and citizens throughout our state.
"Asthma affects hundreds of thousands of Virginians. However, too often this condition has not been properly diagnosed or treated," Lieutenant Governor Bolling said. "By increasing public awareness, we can reduce the prevalence of asthma related health complications, their costs on the health care system and the number of asthma related deaths in Virginia."
For more information about asthma and the complete asthma report visit the VDH Web site at www.vdh.virginia.gov.
For additional information contact Randy Marcus at 804-814-7117 (cell) or randy.marcus@ltgov.virginia.gov.
