Asthma emergency department visits may be linked to seasonal air pollution, even in areas with generally low pollutant levels

A new study found that thunderstorms trigger sharp increases in asthma-related emergency department visits. Researchers analyzed 4,439 asthma-related ED visits and identified 38 thunderstorm days, with a mean of 17.91 admissions on storm days compared to 3.09 on non-storm days.

A Rutgers Health study has found that mothers with mild and moderate to severe depressive symptoms have more emergency department visits for their infants. Infants of mothers with moderate to severe depression had 21% more visits than those without any symptoms, while those with mild symptoms had 10% more visits.

A new study found a significant decline in emergency department visits related to emergency contraception, dropping by 96% between 2006 and 2020. The decrease was attributed to the FDA's approval of over-the-counter emergency contraception, which also reduced medical costs by $7.6 million.

A new study by UT researchers links air pollution in Austin neighborhoods to increased asthma-related emergency room visits, particularly among Black and Latinx residents. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate pollution in high-asthma-burden neighborhoods.

Research suggests exposure to extreme heat and cold increases risk of emergency department visits among people with dementia. Extreme temperatures accelerate health events that would otherwise occur later, potentially leading to increased healthcare demand.

1 in 6 US adults with asthma cite cost as reason for not taking meds as prescribed, leading to near doubling of asthma attack risk and 60% greater odds of emergency care visits. Financial hardship remains a significant barrier to equitable access to healthcare policy.