The influence of age, region and season on asthma admissions in NHS England for the years 2000-2014

Introduction: We present data on Asthma admissions over a 14 year period for NHS England. Methods: Data was extracted from the Hospital Episode Statistics Inpatient data warehouse (1) and provided in aggregate format by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (2). Extraction was limited to emergency admissions of known age and sex and primary diagnosis (ICD-10 J45, J46), month of admission, urban and rural and geographical region. Results: Admission rates in the 12 months from June 2013 to May 2014 were between 5980 and 2530 per month, with a predictable rise in September 2013 (Fourier = 1). This rise was preceded by a fall in the months of May – August 2013. This pattern has been consistent in the past 8 years. No statistical difference was seen between urban and rural and geographical regions. A lag to peak and duration was seen in older age groups. The highest volume of admissions occurred in the younger age groups, and reduced with increasing age. Conclusion: The data shows asthma admissions are closely related to season, and are not influenced by location. The main burden is in the younger age groups. There is clearly defined predictability that will allow for better planning of patient reviews and a targeted public health campaign. Further work will combine these data sets with seasonal trends in weather, viral pathogens and pollen count.