Asthma Data
Quick Facts
How common is asthma in Minnesota?
- Approximately one in 16 children (6.3%) and one in 10 adults (9.9%) currently have asthma, adding up to around 516,200 Minnesotans who have asthma. (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021;
United States Federal Census Quick Facts, 2023) - Overall, the prevalence of asthma among Minnesota adults has been rising.(Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System)
- In 2019, there were 17,023 asthma-related emergency visits, and 1,754 asthma-related hospitalizations in Minnesota. In 2020, during COVID-19, numbers dropped, This was consistent across the country and is attributed to factors related to the pandemic. In 2021, rates partially rebounded with 13,534 emergency department visits and 1,305 hospital visits for asthma. (Minnesota Public Health Data Access, 2019-2021)
- Asthma deaths in Minnesota climbed from 61 in 2018 to a peak of 82 in 2020. In 2021, deaths fell to 53.
Asthma disparities in Minnesota
- Complex factors including structural, social, and political determinants of health such as racism, education, health care access, home and community environments, and income drive Minnesota's asthma disparities.
The likelihood of having asthma differs by race/ethnicity
- Middle and high school students identifying as Pacific Islander, African American, or American Indian are more likely than other students to have been diagnosed with asthma. Within racial/ethnic groups, rates of diagnosis, varied greatly by country of origin or tribe. At 25% students from Puerto Rico were most likely to report an asthma diagnosis, followed by African American students (23%), and students from students (22%). (Minnesota Student Survey, 2022)
- Adults identifying as multi-racial adults are far more likely than other adults to have been diagnosed with asthma. (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2021)
Differences in the rates of hospitalizations and emergency department visits
There are significant differences in the rates of hospitalizations and emergency department visits for asthma by region of the state.
- In 2021,
- Rates of asthma-related emergency visits for adults in the seven-county metropolitan area and adults in Greater Minnesota were nearly the same, while the rate of asthma hospitalizations for adults in the metropolitan area was over 35% higher. (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System)
- The rate of asthma-related emergency visits for children in the seven-county metropolitan area was 60% higher than the rate in Greater Minnesota, and the rate of hospitalizations was over 140% higher. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics, CDC WONDER Online Database, Underlying cause of Health, 2018-2021.)
- During the period 2017 through 2021, rates of asthma-related emergency visits for children living in Minneapolis zip codes ranged up to 220 visits per 10,000 children. The state rate for all Minnesota children was 37 visits per 10,000. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics, CDC WONDER Online Database, Underlying cause of Health, 2018-2021.)
State resources
Minnesota Public Health Data Access Portal
MN Public Health Data Access Portal – Asthma in Minnesota
The data access portal provides additional information on Asthma Emergency Department visits and Asthma Hospitalizations in Minnesota. Explore the data by viewing charts, interactive and static maps, or by selecting an asthma query (state or one or more counties).
Fact sheets
National resources
American Lung Association
Allergy & Asthma Network
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health