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Asthma

√ NY Agencies

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)

The DOHMH is responsible for monitoring and improving public health in the city, including asthma prevention and control. The DOHMH provides resources and programs for asthma education, outreach, and management, and also conducts research on asthma and its impact in the city. Mayor’s Management Report

New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

The DEP is responsible for protecting and improving the quality of the city’s water supply and air. The DEP conducts air quality monitoring and implements programs to reduce air pollution, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms. Mayor’s Management Report

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

The NYCHA provides public housing for low-income New Yorkers, many of whom may be at increased risk of asthma due to factors such as mold and pest infestations. The NYCHA has implemented policies and programs to address indoor asthma triggers, such as pest control and improved ventilation. Mayor’s Management Report

New York City Department of Education (DOE)

The DOE oversees the city’s public schools and has implemented policies and programs to address asthma management in schools, including training for school staff, asthma action plans for students, and environmental assessments to identify and address asthma triggers in school buildings. Mayor’s Management Report

√ Reports

Asthma: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)

This portal has multiple publications by the DOHMH on asthma.

"Disparities among Children with Asthma in New York City"

Nationally and in New York City (NYC) asthma disproportionately affects Black and Latino/a children as well as
those residing in high poverty neighborhoods.2,3 In 2017, 17% of children ages 13 and younger residing in the
Bronx had been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lives, compared with 11% of NYC children ages 13 and younger.

"What Tenants Should Know About Indoor Allergens"

New York City law requires that property owners take steps to keep their tenants’ homes free of pests and mold. This includes safely fixing the conditions that cause these problems. Tenants also play a role in preventing indoor allergens.

"Asthma and Housing Quality in New York City"

Poor quality housing with persistent problems like cracks, holes, and water leaks can lead to pest infestations and mold. These conditions contribute to the development or worsening of asthma symptoms. Pollutants from unventilated gas stoves — particularly when used for heating homes — can also worsen symptoms

Asthma Resources and Publications by the New York State Department of Health

This page provides a list of resources and publications on asthma, including information on national and state organizations, environmental resources, and asthma triggers.

Asthma: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)

This portal has multiple publications by the DOHMH on asthma.

"Disparities among Children with Asthma in New York City"

Nationally and in New York City (NYC) asthma disproportionately affects Black and Latino/a children as well as those residing in high poverty neighborhoods.2,3 In 2017, 17% of children ages 13 and younger residing in the Bronx had been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lives, compared with 11% of NYC children ages 13 and younger.

"What Tenants Should Know About Indoor Allergens"

New York City law requires that property owners take steps to keep their tenants’ homes free of pests and mold. This includes safely fixing the conditions that cause these problems. Tenants also play a role in preventing indoor allergens.

"Asthma and Housing Quality in New York City"

Poor quality housing with persistent problems like cracks, holes, and water leaks can lead to pest infestations and mold. These conditions contribute to the development or worsening of asthma symptoms. Pollutants from unventilated gas stoves — particularly when used for heating homes — can also worsen symptoms

Asthma Resources and Publications by the New York State Department of Health

This page provides a list of resources and publications on asthma, including information on national and state organizations, environmental resources, and asthma triggers.

√ Data sets

Environment and Health Data Portal - Asthma

A dashboard by the DOHMH that provides asthma emergency department visits by age and borough.

New York City Community Air Survey

This survey collects data on air quality in different neighborhoods in New York City, including data on pollutants that can exacerbate asthma.

New York State Asthma Dashboard

This dashboard provides data on asthma prevalence, hospitalizations, and deaths in New York State. Users can filter the data by county, age group, race/ethnicity, and sex.

New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC HANES)

This survey collects data on health behaviors and outcomes in New York City, including data on asthma prevalence, treatment, and control

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Vital Statistics

DOHMH maintains data on deaths due to asthma in New York City, including demographic and geographic information.

New York City Neighborhood Health Atlas

This resource provides community-level data on a variety of health indicators, including asthma prevalence and hospitalization rates.

CDC: Data, Statistics, and Surveillance

Asthma surveillance data includes collection and analyses of asthma data at both the national and the state level. National data is available on asthma morbidity, emergency department visits, hospitalizations due to asthma, and asthma mortality.

√ Data visualizations

Asthma Hospitalization Rates by Neighborhood

This map by Citizens’ Committee for Children shows asthma hospitalization rates by neighborhood in New York City. The map highlights areas with high rates of hospitalization, such as the Bronx and parts of Brooklyn and Queens.

Montefiore Bronx Community Health Dashboard: Asthma

A series of charts detailing asthma rates and impact in the Bronx.

Air Pollution and the Health of New Yorkers: The Impact of Fine Particles and Ozone

This report contains a series of visualizations describing the impact of pollution on asthma rates and hospitalizations.

Statista: Death rates from asthma in the United States in 2021, by state

Mississippi, Hawaii, and Oregon were the top three leading U.S states by number of deaths due to asthma per million population as of 2021. In 2020, around 41 percent of people in the United States with asthma reported experiencing an asthma episode in the past 12 months.

√ STATISTICS

Percent of NYC Children with asthma

%

DOHMH 2019

Adult emergency department visits

2020

Hospitalizations of Adults per 10,000

2020

Prevalence

According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in 2019, 152,000 children or 12% had asthma.

Hospitalizations
Asthma is a leading cause of hospitalizations in New York City. In 2020, there were 3,939 hospitalizations of adults due to asthma, with a rate of 5.7 per 10,000 people.
Emergency Department Visits
In 2020, there were 33,238 emergency department visits due to asthma by adults, with a rate of 47.7 per 10,000 people.
Mortality
While the death rate due to asthma has been declining in recent years, it is still a significant health issue. In 2019, there were 172 deaths due to asthma..
Disparities
Nationally and in New York City (NYC) asthma disproportionately affects Black and Latino/a children as well as those residing in high poverty neighborhoods.2,3 In 2017, 17% of children ages 13 and younger residing in the
Bronx had been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lives, compared with 11% of NYC children ages 13 and younger.

Percent of NYC Children with asthma

%

DOHMH 2019

Adult emergency department visits

2020

Hospitalizations of Adults per 10,000

2020

Prevalence

According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in 2019, 152,000 children or 12% had asthma.

Hospitalizations

Asthma is a leading cause of hospitalizations in New York City. In 2020, there were 3,939 hospitalizations of adults due to asthma, with a rate of 5.7 per 10,000 people.

Emergency Department Visits

In 2020, there were 33,238 emergency department visits due to asthma by adults, with a rate of 47.7 per 10,000 people.

Mortality

While the death rate due to asthma has been declining in recent years, it is still a significant health issue. In 2019, there were 172 deaths due to asthma..

Disparities

Nationally and in New York City (NYC) asthma disproportionately affects Black and Latino/a children as well as those residing in high poverty neighborhoods.2,3 In 2017, 17% of children ages 13 and younger residing in the Bronx had been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lives, compared with 11% of NYC children ages 13 and younger.

√ Census & American Community Survey

ACS Health Insurance Coverage
The ACS collects data on health insurance coverage for different geographic areas, including New York City. This data can be used to understand the relationship between health insurance coverage and access to asthma care and treatment.
ACS Disability Characteristics
The ACS collects data on disability characteristics for different geographic areas, including New York City. This data can be used to understand the impact of asthma on disability and functional limitations.
ACS Commuting Characteristics
The ACS collects data on commuting characteristics for different geographic areas, including New York City. This data can be used to understand the relationship between transportation-related air pollution and asthma.
ACS Housing Characteristics
The ACS collects data on housing characteristics for different geographic areas, including New York City. This data can be used to understand the relationship between housing quality, indoor air pollution, and asthma.
Census Bureau Poverty Data
The Census Bureau collects data on poverty rates and income for different geographic areas, including New York City. This data can be used to understand the relationship between poverty, environmental factors, and asthma.
ACS Health Insurance Coverage
The ACS collects data on health insurance coverage for different geographic areas, including New York City. This data can be used to understand the relationship between health insurance coverage and access to asthma care and treatment.
ACS Disability Characteristics
The ACS collects data on disability characteristics for different geographic areas, including New York City. This data can be used to understand the impact of asthma on disability and functional limitations.
ACS Commuting Characteristics
The ACS collects data on commuting characteristics for different geographic areas, including New York City. This data can be used to understand the relationship between transportation-related air pollution and asthma.
ACS Housing Characteristics
The ACS collects data on housing characteristics for different geographic areas, including New York City. This data can be used to understand the relationship between housing quality, indoor air pollution, and asthma.
Census Bureau Poverty Data
The Census Bureau collects data on poverty rates and income for different geographic areas, including New York City. This data can be used to understand the relationship between poverty, environmental factors, and asthma.

√ Non-Profits

New York City Asthma Partnership

The NYC Asthma Partnership is a coalition of organizations and individuals working to improve asthma care and reduce the burden of asthma in New York City. The partnership provides education and resources for asthma prevention and management, and advocates for policies and programs that promote healthy environments and access to quality care.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New York Chapter

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is a national organization that provides education, advocacy, and support for individuals with asthma and allergies. The New York Chapter of the AAFA works to raise awareness about asthma and allergies in the city and provides resources and support for individuals and families affected by these conditions

New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning:

Lead exposure can contribute to the development and exacerbation of asthma. The New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning is a non-profit organization working to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in the city through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

WE ACT for Environmental Justice

WE ACT is a non-profit organization that works to promote environmental justice and healthy communities in Northern Manhattan and beyond. The organization has implemented programs and advocacy efforts to reduce air pollution, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms, and to promote healthy housing and indoor environments.

√ Experts

Dr. Payel Gupta - SUNY

She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and a voluntary clinical instructor at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. She is actively practicing in New York City, treating both adult and pediatric patients with asthma and other allergic conditions​

Dr. Paula J. Busse - Mount Sinai

Dr. Busse, is a professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology at Mount Sinai. She has a clinical and research focus on asthma in older patients and the treatment of hereditary angioedema. She is active in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and serves on the Hereditary Angioedema Association Scientific Medical Advisory Board​​.

Dr. Joan Reibman - nYU

Dr. Reibman is the director of the Asthma Center at NYU Langone Health. She is an expert on the environmental causes of asthma, particularly air pollution, and has conducted research on the effects of the September 11th attacks on asthma in New York City.

Dr. Neil Schachter - Mount Sinai

Dr. Schachter is a pulmonologist and professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is an expert on the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and has published several books on the subject.

√ Non-Profits

√ Experts

New York City Asthma Partnership

The NYC Asthma Partnership is a coalition of organizations and individuals working to improve asthma care and reduce the burden of asthma in New York City. The partnership provides education and resources for asthma prevention and management, and advocates for policies and programs that promote healthy environments and access to quality care.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New York Chapter: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is a national organization that provides education, advocacy, and support for individuals with asthma and allergies. The New York Chapter of the AAFA works to raise awareness about asthma and allergies in the city and provides resources and support for individuals and families affected by these conditions.

New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning

Lead exposure can contribute to the development and exacerbation of asthma. The New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning is a non-profit organization working to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in the city through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

WE ACT for Environmental Justice

WE ACT is a non-profit organization that works to promote environmental justice and healthy communities in Northern Manhattan and beyond. The organization has implemented programs and advocacy efforts to reduce air pollution, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms, and to promote healthy housing and indoor environments.

Dr. Payel Gupta - SUNY

She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and a voluntary clinical instructor at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. She is actively practicing in New York City, treating both adult and pediatric patients with asthma and other allergic conditions​

Dr. Paula J. Busse - mount Sinai

Dr. Busse, is a professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology at Mount Sinai. She has a clinical and research focus on asthma in older patients and the treatment of hereditary angioedema. She is active in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and serves on the Hereditary Angioedema Association Scientific Medical Advisory Board​​.

Dr. Joan Reibman - NYU

Dr. Reibman is the director of the Asthma Center at NYU Langone Health. She is an expert on the environmental causes of asthma, particularly air pollution, and has conducted research on the effects of the September 11th attacks on asthma in New York City.

Dr. Neil Schachter - Mount Sinai

Dr. Schachter is a pulmonologist and professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is an expert on the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and has published several books on the subject.

√ Journal Articles

"Spatial Enablement to Support Environmental, Demographic, Socioeconomics, and Health Data Integration and Analysis for Big Cities: A Case Study With Asthma Hospitalizations in New York City"

In this paper, we present an application of highly fine-grained spatial resolution methods to New York City data. We investigated the link between asthma hospitalizations and a combination of air pollution and other environmental and socioeconomic factors. We first performed an explorative analysis using spatial clustering methods that shows that asthma is related to numerous factors whose level of influence varies considerably among neighborhoods.

"Developing an Asthma Self-management Intervention Through a Web-Based Design Workshop for People With Limited Health Literacy: User-Centered Design Approach"

We developed an app to support asthma self-management among people with limited health literacy in a web-based workshop (to ensure physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic). The aim of this study is to develop and test a prototype asthma self-management mobile app tailored to the needs of people with limited health literacy through a web-based workshop.

"Outdoor air pollution and asthma"

The idea that outdoor air pollution can cause exacerbations of pre-existing asthma is supported by an evidence base that has been accumulating for several decades, with several studies suggesting a contribution to new-onset asthma as well. In this Series paper, we discuss the effects of particulate matter (PM), gaseous pollutants (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide), and mixed traffic-related air pollution.

Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions for the Elderly in Detroit and New York City"

Article: “Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions for the Elderly in Detroit and New York City” (Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives, 2004) Authors: Michelle L. Bell, Roger Peng, Francesca Dominici. Summary: This study examines the relationship between air pollution and hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, including asthma, among the elderly population in Detroit and New York City.

√ Key Issues

Environmental triggers
Air pollution, mold, and pests such as cockroaches can all trigger asthma symptoms. New York City has struggled to address these environmental triggers, particularly in low-income communities where landlords may be reluctant to invest in pest control or mold remediation.
High asthma rates
New York City has one of the highest asthma rates in the country, with rates that are two to three times higher than the national average. This is a major public health concern, as asthma can be a life-threatening condition.
Health disparities
Asthma rates in New York City are not evenly distributed, with certain neighborhoods and communities of color disproportionately affected. These disparities are thought to be due to a variety of factors, including environmental pollution, poverty, and lack of access to healthcare.
Access to care
Many New Yorkers with asthma do not have access to regular medical care or asthma medication, either because they lack health insurance or because they live in areas without enough healthcare providers.
Emergency department visits

Asthma is a leading cause of emergency department visits in New York City, particularly among children. This can be costly and disruptive for families, and may reflect a lack of adequate primary care and preventive services.

√ Social Media Accounts

nycHealthy

This is the official Twitter account of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. They often share information and resources related to asthma, as well as updates on initiatives to address the issue in the city.

LungAssociation

This is the Twitter account of the American Lung Association. They share information and resources related to lung health, including asthma.

MountSinaiNYC

This is the Twitter account of the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. They often share news and updates related to research on asthma and other lung diseases.

AAFANational

This is the Twitter account of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. While not specific to New York City, they share information and resources related to asthma that may be helpful for those living in the city.

NYULangone

This is the Twitter account of NYU Langone Health, which is home to several experts on asthma. They often share news and updates related to asthma research and treatment.