Asthma--United States, 1982-1992.

Asthma is characterized by variable airflow obstruction with airway hyperresponsiveness; prominent clinical manifestations include wheezing and shortness of breath. During the 1980s, the prevalence of and mortality associated with asthma increased in the United States and other countries (1,2). To describe national trends in disease burden for asthma in the United States, CDC analyzed data for 1982-1992 (the most recent year for which data are available) for deaths, hospital discharges, and self-reported morbidity. This report summarizes the findings of the analysis.