MMWR News Synopsis

Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults – United States, 2016

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

Despite progress in reducing the proportion of adults who smoke cigarettes, 37.8 million U.S. adults still smoke and significant disparities persist. During 2005–2016, the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among U.S. adults declined from 20.9 percent to 15.5 percent, and the proportion of ever smokers who quit smoking increased from 50.8 percent to 59.0 percent. However, marked disparities in smoking prevalence exist. In 2016, cigarette smoking was especially high among people who:

• Were male.
• Were ages 25-64 years.
• Had less education.
• Were American Indian/Alaska Native or multiracial.
• Had serious psychological distress.
• Were uninsured or insured through Medicaid.
• Had incomes below the poverty level.
• Had a disability or limitation.,
• Were lesbian/gay/bisexual.
• Lived in the Midwest or South.

Proven population-based interventions, including tobacco price increases, comprehensive smoke-free laws, anti-tobacco mass-media campaigns, and barrier-free access to tobacco cessation counseling and medications are critical to reduce cigarette smoking and smoking-related disease and death among U.S. adults, particularly among subpopulations with the highest use.

Asthma Mortality Among Persons Aged 15-64 Years, by Industry and Occupation – United States, 1999-2015

CDC Media Relations
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Among U.S. adults ages 15–64 years, 33,307 deaths from asthma occurred during 1999–2016, including approximately 7,000 (390 annually) that could be attributable to occupational exposures and were therefore potentially preventable. The elevated asthma mortality among workers in certain industries and occupations underscores the importance of optimal asthma management, and identification and prevention or reduction of potential workplace exposures. In 2015, an estimated 18.4 million U.S. adults had current asthma, and 3,396 adult asthma deaths were reported. Approximately 11 percent to 21 percent of asthma deaths might be attributable to occupational exposures. This study aimed to describe asthma mortality among persons of working age (15–64 years) during 1999–2016, and identify industry and occupation with elevated asthma mortality among workers.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medication Prescription Claims Among Women Aged 15–44 years with Private Employer-Sponsored Insurance — United States, 2003–2015

CDC Media Relations
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In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in ADHD medicine prescriptions filled by women of reproductive age., However there is very little information about the safety of taking ADHD medicines during pregnancy. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects people of all ages. Women may take ADHD medicine before they know they are pregnant, or may need to continue taking their ADHD medicine to manage symptoms during pregnancy. However, little is known about the safety of taking these medicines during pregnancy. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in ADHD medicine prescriptions filled by women aged 15-44 years. A recent report suggests that the number of privately insured U.S. women aged 15-44 years who filled a prescription for ADHD medicine increased nearly 350 percent between 2003 and 2015. Options for managing ADHD symptoms during pregnancy should be discussed with a healthcare provider as women consider getting pregnant.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Seasonality – United States, 2014-2017

CDC Media Relations
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RSV infections are common, and can cause serious illness in infants and older adults. RSV season onset from 2014 through 2017 occurred in mid-October, peaked in early February, and lasted 31 weeks until early May.Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory infection in young children in the United States and worldwide and is increasingly being recognized as an important cause of severe respiratory disease in adults. We report RSV seasonality using a new quantitative method that uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory detections reported to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS). Nationally, across three surveillance years, lasting from the week ending July 5, 2014 until July 1, 2017, the median RSV onset occurred mid-October and lasted 31 weeks until early May. The median national peak occurred in early February. Knowing RSV seasonality can guide diagnostic testing and inform decisions about administration of new and future prevention strategies.

• Legionellosis Outbreak Associated with a Hotel Aquatics Facility – Tennessee, 2017
• Baylisascaris procyonis Encephalomyelitis in a Toddler — King County, Washington, 2017

• Percentage Distribution of Adult Day Services Center Participants by Place of Residence — National Study of Long-Term Care Providers, United States, 2016

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.