Uncontrolled Asthma Among Children With Current Asthma, 2018–2020

Forty-four percent of children with current asthma had uncontrolled asthma

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Children with well controlled asthma symptoms can lead normal lives. However, uncontrolled asthma with frequent and intense episodes of symptoms can have a significant cost to families and society because it may lead to an increased risk of an emergency department visit, hospitalization, and work and school absenteeism. Asthma control was classified as well controlled or uncontrolled based on the national asthma guidelines. *

About 44.0% of children with current asthma† had uncontrolled asthma. The percentage with uncontrolled asthma was higher among boys (49.9%) than among girls (36.2%) (sex at birth). No other statistically significant differences by demographic characteristics were observed. The level of asthma control varies by state but does not seem to follow a specific geographic pattern. The percentage with uncontrolled asthma for children ranged from 32.3% in Indiana to 62.1% in New York (Table).

Percentage with Uncontrolled Asthma by Demographics
bar chart showing %26#37; of adults with uncontrolled asthma, by demographics. Table below repeats this data.

Abbreviation: NH, Non-Hispanic; SE, Standard error; CI, confidence interval

Percentage with Uncontrolled Asthma by Demographics 2018-2020
Characteristic Percent 95% CI SE y-error bar
(=1.96*SE)
Male 49.9 43.2–56.5 2.42 6.7
Female 36.2 29.6–43.4 3.53 6.9
0–4 years 45.8 32.3–60.0 7.24 14.2
5–11 years 46.6 38.2–55.1 4.36 8.5
12–17 years 40.6 34.5–47.1 3.26 6.4
NH White 39.1 33.7–44.8 1.51 5.5
NH Black 46.2 34.1–58.7 4.42 12.6
Hispanic 48.6 35.1–62.2 3.32 13.9
NH Other 48.2 37.1–59.6 4.36 11.4
CDC’s National Asthma Control Program (NACP) was created in 1999 to help the millions of people with asthma in the United States gain control over their disease. The NACP conducts national asthma surveillance and funds states to help them improve their asthma surveillance and to focus efforts and resources where they are needed.
Adults with Current and Uncontrolled Asthma 2019
Children With Current† and Uncontrolled Asthma*
STATE§ % 95% CI SE
Total 44.0 38.9–49.2 2.63
CA 37.9 24.5–53.4 7.57
CT 37.7 27.1–49.7 5.85
FL 42.0 28.3–56.6 7.27
GA 60.3 43.5–74.9 8.25
HI 33.5 21.0–48.9 7.25
IN 32.3 22.2–44.4 5.74
KS 52.9 42.0–63.5 5.57
ME 49.5 37.2–61.8 6.39
MI 47.8 39.0–56.8 4.56
MN 38.7 29.6–48.7 4.91
MO 47.9 33.2–63.0 7.82
MT 37.4 23.4–54.0 8.03
NE 42.4 29.7–56.2 6.93
NM 37.0 23.5–52.9 7.71
NY 62.1 44.1–77.2 8.74
OH 37.8 26.4–50.7 6.33
PA 36.3 23.0–52.2 7.63
RI 40.7 25.4–58.1 8.63
UT 54.5 44.7–63.9 4.94
VT 53.7 41.4–65.6 6.28
WI 36.4 23.7–51.3 7.18

Source: Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS)—Child Asthma Call-back Survey Data, 2018-2020
*National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert panel report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, 2007. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7232/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK7232.pdf [PDF – 3.9 MB].
†Includes persons who answered “yes” to the questions: “Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you had asthma?” and “Do you still have asthma?”
§Includes states with 3 years of data.
Total includes the 21 listed states.

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