A profile of U.S. asthma centers, 2006.

Background: Asthma is a significant public health problem that results in 1.8 million annual emergency department (ED) visits. Many ED visits may be prevented with specialized asthma care.

Objective: To describe US asthma centers with a long-term goal of exploring their potential role in improving outcomes for ED patients with acute asthma.

Methods: We conducted initial online surveys in 2004. One survey identified asthma centers and their directors through reports by emergency medicine researchers and fellowship directors (allergy/immunology, pulmonary, and critical care) at US hospitals. A second survey asked asthma center directors to describe their asthma center. Follow-up surveys were conducted 2 years later in 2006.

Results: Eighty-seven (49%) of the 177 hospitals surveyed have asthma clinics. Although spirometry was available on the day of the visit at all asthma centers surveyed in 2006, only 21% (95% confidence interval, 11 %-34%) of sites reported that at least 90% of visits per week included a spirometry test. Only one quarter (26%; 95% confidence interval, 15%-40%) of asthma centers reported that at least 90% of patients undergo a skin or blood test for environmental allergens during 1 of their visits. Half of center directors (53%) were unsure of the approximate number of annual ED visits for acute asthma at their hospital. No significant measured changes were noted in asthma centers between 2004 and 2006.

Conclusions: Asthma centers are heterogenous, with different services available. Although challenges remain, collaboration between EDs and asthma centers may contribute to improved asthma outcomes and merits further study.