Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Current Asthma and Emergency Department Visits: Findings from the National Health Interview Survey, 2001-2010

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Emeka Oraka, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Shahed Iqbal, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; W Dana Flanders, Emory University; Kimberly Brinker, Emory University; Paul Garbe, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-06-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis: STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/02770903.2013.790417
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Asthma
• ISSN: 0277-0903
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 488
• End Page: 496
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Keywords: Health Status Disparities; Respiratory System; Allergy; EDUCATION; SELF-MANAGEMENT; CHILDREN; Ethnicity; Emergency Department; PERCEPTIONS; PREVALENCE; BARRIERS; AFRICAN-AMERICAN; PRIMARY-CARE; ACCESS; GUIDELINES; Asthma; Science & Technology; Race; Life Sciences & Biomedicine
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Objectives. Racial/ethnic disparities in current asthma prevalence and medical care are a major public health concern. We examined the differences in asthma prevalence and morbidity among major racial/ethnic populations in the US. Methods. We analyzed data from the 2001-2010 National Health Interview Survey for adults (≥18 years) and children and adolescents (<18 years). Outcome variables were current asthma prevalence, at least one attack in the past 12 months, and at least one asthma-related emergency department/urgent care center (ED/UCC) visit in the past 12 months. We used multivariate logistic regression to calculate the model-adjusted prevalence and risk ratios (ARR). Results. In our study, 9.0% of the children and 7.2% of the adults had current asthma. Non-Hispanic black and Puerto Rican children were more likely to have current asthma (ARR 1.46, 1.66, respectively) and to visit the ED/UCC (ARR 1.61, 1.67, respectively) than non-Hispanic whites. American Indian/Alaskan Native children were more likely to have current asthma (ARR 1.76) than non-Hispanic whites. Mexican/Mexican American children and adults had lower prevalence of current asthma but higher ED/UCC use (adults only) than non-Hispanic whites. Among adults, Puerto Ricans and American Indian/Alaskan Natives were more likely to have current asthma (ARR 1.60, 1.39, respectively) than non-Hispanic whites, and all the studied racial/ethnic groups except Asians were more likely to have visited the ED/UCC than non-Hispanic whites. Adults and children who received emergency care for asthma in the past 12 months more frequently received multiple components of asthma management and control (e.g., taking long-term medication, having an asthma management plan) compared to those without emergency care. Conclusions. Racial/ethnic differences in current asthma prevalence, asthma attacks, and increased utilization of emergency room visits for asthma among minorities persist among children and adults. Appropriate and effective asthma management and education may lead to better asthma control and reduce emergency care utilization.