Understanding the 2025 Asthma Capitals™ Report
Our partner in the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), has released its 2025 Asthma Capitals™ report. This annual research highlights how where you live can have a significant impact on asthma outcomes. More than 28 million people in the U.S. live with asthma, and factors such as access to healthcare, clean air, and economic stability play a critical role in managing the condition.
The Asthma Capitals™ report ranks the 100 largest U.S. cities by three key outcomes:
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Asthma prevalence
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Emergency department visits due to asthma
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Asthma-related deaths
This year, Detroit, MI ranks as the #1 most challenging place to live with asthma, followed by Rochester, NY and Allentown, PA
Beyond the rankings, the report emphasizes the many risk factors that shape asthma outcomes, including poverty, air pollution, access to medical specialists, pollen allergy, smoking, and health insurance coverage. These are hugely important insights for public health leaders, policymakers, and communities working to reduce the nationwide burden of asthma.
September: Asthma Peak Month
AAFA releases this report each September (known as Asthma Peak Month) when emergency visits and hospitalizations spike. During the third week of September, often called Asthma Peak Week, triggers such as ragweed pollen, mold, viral infections, and poor indoor air quality in schools converge to make it the most dangerous time of year for people with asthma.
A Trusted Source of Research and Advocacy
We value AAFA’s commitment to advancing asthma awareness through this research, because the Asthma Capitals™ report is a real call to action. By identifying the cities most affected and the risk factors that worsen outcomes, AAFA equips policymakers, health systems, and advocates with the evidence they need to create meaningful change.
At the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program, we are proud to collaborate with AAFA on raising awareness of the challenges of asthma and on providing scientifically tested solutions to improve indoor environments.