Hot Topics

Discover the latest insights on asthma, including innovative research, effective management strategies, and practical tips for controlling symptoms. Explore the hot topics below to help you navigate your journey toward improved asthma care and better health.

Asthma Peak Week: The Perfect Storm

What is Peak Week?

  • Every third week of September is considered as “Asthma Peak Week”1
  • Anyone with asthma should take extra precaution during the month of September1
  • The ED visit rates are significantly higher in September than in other months, and physician visits are also the highest in fall1

Why does it happen?

  • Cold and flu season beginning in early autumn2
  • Ragweed pollen is released in early fall3
  • Mold counts can increase with damper weather2
  • Kids going back to school (and thus more germ exposure due to close contact with their classmates)2

What can you do?

  • Be aware of Peak Week and monitor weather/pollen counts4
  • Know your triggers/symptoms 4
  • Review your asthma action plan4
  • Make sure your prescriptions are filled and inhalers are not expired4
  • Keep taking medications as prescribed 4
  • Alert your emergency contacts4

ED, emergency department.

References: 1. Larsen K, et al. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2016;13:231-239. 2. Pike KC, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3:CD012393. 3. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. https://www.aafa.org/ragweed-pollen/. Accessed January 7, 2025. 4. Allergy & Asthma Network. https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/images/Asthma/September_Asthma_Peak_July2023v1.pdf. Accessed January 7, 2025.

Black Americans Have Worse Asthma Outcomes Than White Americans

  • Disproportionately diagnosed1
  • ~2x as likely to be hospitalized due to asthma2
  • ~5x as likely to visit the emergency department due to asthma2
  • ~3x likely to die due to asthma, with the highest death rates in Black women1,3

Asthma Disparities Among American Indian/Alaska Native Individuals

  • Compared with the general population, American Indian/Alaska Natives are:
    • ~2x more likely to experience daily asthma symptoms4,*
    • More likely to wake up during the night due to asthma4,*
    • 41% more likely to die from asthma than White Americans5
    • American Indian/Alaska Native adults are ~66% more likely to have asthma than White adults3

What Factors Cause Asthma Disparities?

  • Economic stability and education6
  • Racism and discrimination6
  • Bias and environmental injustice6
  • Distrust and treatment nonadherence6
  • Disproportionate exposure to smoke and air pollutants6
  • Genetic influence on asthma susceptibility and severity6-9

How Do We Help Reduce Asthma Disparities?

  • Expand health insurance coverage and reform policies on healthcare, education, and environment6
  • Increase representation in trials and address any stigmas and myths and include racially and ethnically diverse researchers6
  • Improve patient-provider communication and provide HCP education and support programs on asthma care6
  • Strengthen multistakeholder partnerships, patient-family engagement, and provider-community relationships6

*Among the American Indian/Alaska Native population in Washington state.

HCP, healthcare provider.

References: 1. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/aafa-asthma-facts-and-figures.pdf. Accessed January 7, 2025. 2. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. https://community.aafa.org/blog/asthma-and-black-americans-a-closer-look-at-disparities-and-solutions-for-change. Accessed January 7, 2025. 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_national_asthma_data.htm. Accessed January 7, 2025. 4. Washington State Department of Health. https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/Pubs//345-308-AsthmaAmongNativeAmericansAndAlaskaNatives.pdf. Accessed January 7, 2025. 5. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/asthma_in_ai_an_communities_fact_sheet.pdf. Accessed January 7, 2025. 6. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/asthma-disparities-in-america-burden-by-race-ethnicity-executive-summary.pdf. Accessed January 7, 2025. 7. Slager RE, et al. Clin Chest Med. 2012;33:431-443. 8. Vijverberg SJH, et al. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2018;12:55-65. 9. Rumpel JA, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;130:1302-1306.

What is National Influenza Vaccination Week?

  • National Influenza Vaccination Week occurs every year in December1
  • Annual influenza or “flu” vaccine can help protect against the flu1
  • The exact timing and duration of flu seasons vary, but flu activity in North America often begins to increase in October2
  • Most of the time, flu activity peaks between December and February, although significant activity can last as late as May2

Who’s at risk?

  • People with certain chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications3
  • During most flu seasons, 90% of adults who are hospitalized with flu have an underlying medical condition4
  • Non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hispanic or Latino persons are at increased risk of being hospitalized with flu because they are more likely to have an underlying medical condition(s)4

What can patients with asthma do?

  • Anyone with asthma is at higher risk for flu-related complications, such as pneumonia. Along with everyone else, if you have asthma, you should:3
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing
    • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue away. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not your bare hands
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth (germs are spread that way)
    • Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care

There’s still time to get vaccinated against the flu!

US, United States.

References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu-resources/php/nivw/index.html. Accessed January 7, 2025. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season.html. Accessed January 7, 2025. 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/index.htm. Accessed January 7, 2025. 4. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. https://www.nfid.org/flu-vaccination-is-more-important-than-ever-this-flu-season/. Accessed January 7, 2025.