Asthma is a long-term condition that affects the lungs. It is common in children, but adults can have asthma too. People with asthma have the condition all the time, but asthma attacks usually appear only when something irritates their lungs. An asthma attack can cause coughing, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and trouble breathing. These symptoms happen in the airways, which are the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. During an asthma attack, the airways swell, tighten, and are clogged by mucus. This makes it harder for air to move in and out of the lungs. Common things that can trigger asthma symptoms include secondhand smoke, dust mites, air pollution, cockroaches and other pests, pets, and mold.
In 2024, Black/African American adults were 14% more likely than U.S. adults overall to have asthma. Black/African American children were 60% more likely than U.S. children overall to have asthma.
In 2021, Black/African American adults were more than twice as likely to die from asthma compared with U.S. adults overall. Black/African American children were nearly four times as likely to die from asthma compared with U.S. children overall.
In 2020, Black/African American adults were almost three times as likely to visit the emergency room because of asthma as U.S. adults overall. Black/African American children were about two and a half times as likely to visit the emergency room because of asthma as U.S. children overall.
Asthma mortality among adults ages 18 and over, rate per million, 2021
Black*
Total Population
Ratio (Black* / Total)
29.7
13.1
2.27
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Most recent asthma data. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Children and Adolescents
Asthma mortality among children ages 0–17, rate per million, 2021
Black*
Total Population
Ratio (Black* / Total)
7.7
2.0
3.85
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Most recent asthma data. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Health Care Use
Adults
Emergency department visits with asthma as the first listed diagnosis in the past 12 months among adults ages 18 and over, rate per 10,000 population, 2020
Black/African American Alone
Total Population
Ratio (Black / Total)
80.6
27.8
2.90
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Asthma: Healthcare use data 2020 (Table A). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Hospital inpatient stays with asthma as the first listed diagnosis among adults ages 18 and over, rate per 10,000 population, 2020
Black
Total Population
Ratio (Black / Total)
6.5
2.6
2.50
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Asthma: Healthcare use data 2020 (Table B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Children and Adolescents
Emergency department visits with asthma as the first listed diagnosis in the past 12 months among children ages 0–17, rate per 10,000 population, 2020
Black
Total Population
Ratio (Black / Total)
89.5
36.4
2.46
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Asthma: Healthcare use data 2020 (Table A). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Hospital inpatient stays with asthma as the first listed diagnosis among children ages 0–17 years, rate per 10,000 population, 2020
Black
Total Population
Ratio (Black / Total)
8.6
3.6
2.39
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Asthma: Healthcare use data 2020 (Table B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
