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Symptom profile and asthma control in school-aged children
Perla A Vargas1, Pippa M Simpson, Margo Bushmiaer
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital, Center for Applied Research and Evaluation, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202-3591, USA. VargasPerlaA@uams.edu
Summary
Asthma affects 25% of school children, with poor control impacting quality of life and school attendance. Interventions are crucial to improve asthma management and outcomes in urban, minority populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Poorly controlled asthma in children leads to significant health issues, including airway remodeling, sleep disturbances, and missed school days.
- Asthma significantly impacts a child's quality of life, limiting their participation in daily activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of asthma in school-aged children.
- To characterize the severity and burden of asthma in this population.
Main Methods:
- A case-finding study utilized a multiple-choice questionnaire and an asthma algorithm.
- Physician diagnosis, symptom severity, and healthcare utilization data were analyzed.
- Chi-squared tests and logistic regression were employed to assess differences and associations.
Main Results:
- 25% of 5,417 surveyed children were at risk for asthma, with 55% classified as active cases.
- Only 14% of asthma cases reported no respiratory symptoms; school absenteeism was significantly higher in cases (19-54%) versus non-cases (75%).
- African American race, Medicaid enrollment, and male sex predicted asthma risk; these factors, along with age and persistent asthma, predicted emergency department use.
Conclusions:
- Active symptoms of poorly controlled asthma are highly prevalent in urban, minority school children.
- Poor asthma control negatively affects school attendance and academic performance.
- Interventions should focus on improving asthma control to enhance children's quality of life.
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