{"id":33460,"date":"2026-08-31T16:02:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T20:02:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aafa.org\/?p=33460"},"modified":"2026-09-01T08:35:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T12:35:20","slug":"report-aafa-names-2026-asthma-capitals-highlights-risk-factors-that-increase-asthma-related-er-visits-and-deaths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aafa.org\/report-aafa-names-2026-asthma-capitals-highlights-risk-factors-that-increase-asthma-related-er-visits-and-deaths\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: AAFA Names 2026 Asthma Capitals, Highlights Risk Factors That Increase Asthma-Related ER Visits and Deaths"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”News T-Hero Section” module_class=”hero tert” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/aafa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AAFA-Website_Tertiary_News.jpg” background_position=”top_right” custom_padding=”1%||1%||true|false” global_module=”2297″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_left” background_horizontal_offset=”0%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”2%||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Nav Parent Title” module_class=”tert-parent” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font_size=”32px” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

News<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Breadcrumbs” module_class=”bcrumb” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”left” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”font-size:16px;||color: #fff;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Main Content” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_right” custom_padding=”2%||2%||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Title Row” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title author=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”Blog Post Title” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_color=”#008C99″ title_font_size=”39px” meta_font=”|700|||||||” meta_text_color=”#505050″ meta_font_size=”20px” title_font_size_tablet=”30px” title_font_size_phone=”26px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” meta_font_size_tablet=”20px” meta_font_size_phone=”16px” meta_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Content Row” module_class=”blog-single” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Page Content – EMBARGO” module_class=”secondary-intro” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” custom_margin=”||3%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on”]<\/p>\n

EMBARGOED UNTIL September 1, 2026 at 7am ET<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Page Content” module_class=”secondary-intro” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” custom_margin=”||3%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Poverty, respiratory infections, air pollution, and health care barriers make living with asthma more challenging<\/em><\/p>\n

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Washington D.C., September 1, 2026 \u2014 As hospital emergency departments prepare for a surge of asthma-related visits starting in September, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) released its 2026 Asthma Capitals\u00ae report naming the most challenging places to live in the United States with asthma. This year\u2019s report names Allentown, Pennsylvania the #1 Asthma Capital<\/strong> in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Allentown is the most challenging city in the U.S. to live with asthma due to its higher-than-average asthma prevalence and having the highest rate of asthma-related emergency department visits of all cities analyzed. This year’s ranking marks the third time in the past four years that Allentown earned the top spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the United States, 1 in 12 people have asthma and between 9 and 11 people die each day from asthma,\u201d said Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of AAFA. \u201cThe more than 28 million people in the US with asthma face missed days of school and work, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. Our Asthma Capitals report should be a wake-up call for policymakers and a roadmap for policy improvements. Recent policy changes to our nation\u2019s healthcare infrastructure mean millions more people may lack access to the care they need to treat and manage their asthma.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Top 20 Asthma Capitals for 2026 (out of 100 areas ranked) are:<\/strong>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ module_class=”blog-single” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#008C99″ custom_margin=”||2%||false|false” custom_padding=”2%||2%||true|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”19px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

1. Allentown, PA
2. Detroit, MI
3. Rochester, NY
4. Philadelphia, PA
5. Cleveland, OH
6. Lakeland, FL
7. Syracuse, NY<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”19px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

8. Hartford, CT
9. Charleston, SC
10. Sacramento, CA
11. Columbia, SC
12. Fresno, CA
13. Virginia Beach, VA
14. Spokane, WA<\/p>\n

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15. Albany, NY
16. Baltimore, MD
17. Providence, RI
18. Dallas, TX
19. Milwaukee, WI
20. Phoenix, AZ<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Content Row” module_class=”blog-single” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Post Content” module_class=”secondary-intro” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” custom_margin=”||3%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The rankings are based on estimated asthma prevalence, emergency department (ED) visits due to asthma, and asthma-related fatalities. AAFA only evaluates the top 100 populated places (based on metropolitan statistical areas or MSAs) in the contiguous (\u201clower 48\u201d) states for this report. To see the complete 100-city list ranking, visit: asthmacapitals.org<\/a><\/p>\n

People living in or near the top Asthma Capitals may face higher rates of poverty, poor air quality, lower community protection from respiratory infections, higher exposure to tobacco and pollen, or limited access to health insurance and asthma specialists.<\/p>\n

The report\u2019s findings indicate respiratory infections are a key driver of asthma-related emergency department visits, with a notable spike in visits starting in September and running through respiratory infection season (well into the winter months).<\/p>\n

\"Where<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

September: The Start of Asthma Peak Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

The report’s release coincides with the start of what is known as Asthma Peak Season. AAFA says people should start taking steps now to manage their asthma symptoms during this challenging time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAAFA\u2019s Asthma Capitals report is released at the start of Asthma Peak Season to raise awareness of the challenges people with asthma start facing in fall each year,\u201d said Melanie Carver, chief mission officer at AAFA. \u201cPediatric asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits begin to climb in September and October, as children return to school and respiratory infection season begins. Throughout the fall and winter, asthma-related ED visits surge when respiratory infections circulate. Vaccines<\/a> that provide protection from the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and other respiratory infections can help minimize potential complications for people with asthma exposed to these illnesses. Policymakers should take steps to improve rather than limit access to health care and vaccines for people with asthma.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitchell Grayson, MD, professor of pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Nationwide Children\u2019s Hospital and The Ohio State University, and chair of AAFA\u2019s Medical Scientific Council says the actions people with asthma take now will make a difference in how they experience Asthma Peak Season.<\/p>\n

\u201cAchieving well-controlled asthma is possible when you live in a healthy environment and have access to appropriate care and treatment. If you have asthma, work with your doctor (preferably an asthma specialist) to develop an Asthma Action Plan<\/a>, take any asthma medicines as prescribed, get updated vaccines, and limit your exposure to your asthma triggers. Putting your plan into place now can help you stay healthy through the fall and winter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Map<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”33523,33010″ posts_number=”2″ orientation=”portrait” show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”2 Images – Asthma Caps PR” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” animation_style=”flip” animation_delay=”150ms” custom_css_free_form=”selector {|| max-width: none !important;|| width: 100% !important;||}||||selector .et_pb_gallery_items {|| display: flex !important;|| gap: 15px !important;|| justify-content: center !important;||}||||selector .et_pb_gallery_item {|| margin: 0px !important;||}||||@media screen and (max-width: 800px) {|| selector .et_pb_gallery_items {|| flex-direction: column !important;|| align-items: center !important;|| }|| || selector .et_pb_gallery_item {|| width: 75% !important;|| }||}” disabled=”on” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text admin_label=”Press Contact” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ link_font=”||||on|||#008c99|” link_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#008c99″ header_3_font_size=”28px” global_colors_info=”{}”]Press Contact:<\/strong>
\nAndy Spears
\nPublic Affairs Manager
\nAsthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
\nmedia@aafa.org[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”About the Research\/About AAFA” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#505050″ link_font=”||||on|||#008c99|” link_text_color=”#008c99″ link_line_height=”1.7em” ul_line_height=”1.7em” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008c99″ header_2_font_size=”39px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#008c99″ header_3_font_size=”28px” background_color=”#F5EDDF” custom_padding=”4%|4%|4%|4%|true|true” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

About the Research<\/strong><\/p>\n

AAFA publishes the Asthma Capitals\u00ae report<\/a> to monitor the nationwide impacts of asthma. The report analyzes asthma data across the United States and ranks cities by the most critical of health outcomes \u2013 asthma prevalence, emergency department visits due to asthma attacks, and asthma-related mortality. The outcomes are not weighted equally. The report also examines asthma risk factors that influence the outcomes.<\/p>\n

AAFA evaluates data for the 100 most-populated cities in the continental United States, based on metropolitan statistical data in the contiguous (\u201clower 48\u201d) states. MSAs are cities and their surrounding areas (like suburbs and nearby rural areas). The report does not reflect:<\/p>\n