Orange County (Age Cohort 0-17) Bronchitis & Asthma Emergency Department Admits by Year, 2012-2017 1000
1.5
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ADMITS
900 892
800 700
755
752
801
1.17 1.11 1.04
1.03
1.3 1.2
1.23
500
300
847
736
600
400
1.4
1.1 1.0
1.01 0.9
200 100
0.8
0
0.7 2012
2013
Bronchitis & Asthma Admits
2014
2015
2016
2017
Bronchitis & Asthma Admits Per 1,000
Source: OSHPD Discharge Database, 2012-2017
According to OSHPD, bronchitis and asthma related diagnoses consistently rank as the number one reason patients 0-17 are admitted through the emergency department in Orange County. The admits per 1,000 patients remained steady between 2012 and 2014 before spiking to 1.23 admits per 1,000 in 2016 and 1.17 admits per 1,000 in 2017.
OBESITY AND DIABETES According to Orange County’s Healthier Together, obesity and diabetes are major contributors to the leading causes of death including heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. Diabetes is itself a major cause of death and the rate of those living with diabetes has been increasing in the last 30 years. The increasing trend of obesity and diabetes is heavily influenced by a person’s community and health habits. The CDC defines childhood obesity as a child who is well above the normal or healthy weight for his/her age and height. The CDC noted that more than one-third (35%) of U.S. Children ages 2-19 are overweight or obese. Childhood obesity can cause chronic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes which is a condition of having high blood sugar levels. Although Type 2 diabetes most often develops in people over the age of 45, more children, teens, and young adults are developing it.
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