The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 122, Issue 3 , Pages 537-541.e3 , September 2008

Reduction in asthma-related emergency department visits after implementation of a smoke-free law

  • Mary Kay Rayens, PhD

      Affiliations

    • College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky
    • College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky
    • ,
  • Patricia V. Burkhart, PhD, RN

      Affiliations

    • College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky
    • ,
  • Mei Zhang, MPH, RN

      Affiliations

    • College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky
    • ,
  • Seongjik Lee, EdS

      Affiliations

    • College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky
    • ,
  • Debra K. Moser, DNSc, RN

      Affiliations

    • College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky
    • ,
  • David Mannino, MD

      Affiliations

    • College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky
    • ,
  • Ellen J. Hahn, DNS, RN

      Affiliations

    • College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky
    • College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Ellen J. Hahn, DNS, RN, 760 Rose St, Lexington, KY 40536-0232.

Received 21 December 2007 ,Revised 26 June 2008 ,Accepted 26 June 2008.

  • Image Result

    Actual and predicted monthly rates of asthma ED admissions per 100,000 population in Lexington-Fayette County, 2001-2006; the vertical line indicates the division between prelaw and postlaw periods. T

    Actual and predicted monthly rates of asthma ED admissions per 100,000 population in Lexington-Fayette County, 2001-2006; the vertical line indicates the division between prelaw and postlaw periods. The Poisson regression model used to determine the predicted rates demonstrated a 19% decrease in ED visits for asthma after the community smoke-free law. The graph contains a second postlaw curve, the projected rate of ED visits had the law not been implemented.

  • Image Result
    Actual and predicted monthly rates of pediatric asthma ED admissions per 100,000 population in Lexington-Fayette County, 2001 to 2006. The vertical line indicates the division between prelaw and postl

    Actual and predicted monthly rates of pediatric asthma ED admissions per 100,000 population in Lexington-Fayette County, 2001 to 2006. The vertical line indicates the division between prelaw and postlaw periods. The Poisson regression model used to determine the predicted rates demonstrated an 18% decrease in ED visits for asthma among children after the community smoke-free law. The graph contains a second postlaw curve, the projected rate of ED visits had the law not been implemented.

  • Image Result
    Actual and predicted monthly rates of adult asthma ED admissions per 100,000 population in Lexington-Fayette County, 2001 to 2006. The vertical line indicates the division between prelaw and postlaw p

    Actual and predicted monthly rates of adult asthma ED admissions per 100,000 population in Lexington-Fayette County, 2001 to 2006. The vertical line indicates the division between prelaw and postlaw periods. The Poisson regression model used to determine the predicted rates demonstrated a 24% decrease in ED visits for asthma among adults after the community smoke-free law. The graph contains a second postlaw curve, the projected rate of ED visits had the law not been implemented.

 Supported by the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute.

 Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: E. J. Hahn receives grant support from the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute. D. K. Moser receives grant support from the National Institutes of Health–National Institute of Nursing Research and the National Institutes of Health–Nation Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. D. Mannino is on the advisory board for GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer and the Data Safety Monitoring Board for Boehringer-Ingelheim; receives grant support from GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Novartis; and has provided legal consultation or expert witness testimony in cases related to secondhand smoke and diacetyl exposure. M. K. Rayens receives grant support from the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute. The rest of the authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest.

PII: S0091-6749(08)01178-0

doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.06.029

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 122, Issue 3 , Pages 537-541.e3 , September 2008

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution