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Socioeconomic factors and asthma control in children

Shannon F Cope1, Wendy J Ungar, Richard H Glazier

  • 1Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|July 11, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children with asthma from lower socioeconomic backgrounds have poorer asthma control. These disparities persist despite access to healthcare and controller medications, highlighting ongoing challenges in pediatric asthma management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Health Services Research
  • Social Determinants of Health

Background:

  • Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition in children.
  • Effective asthma control is crucial for maintaining quality of life and preventing exacerbations.
  • Socioeconomic status is increasingly recognized as a significant factor influencing health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between socioeconomic factors and asthma control in children.
  • To determine if socioeconomic disparities impact asthma control as defined by the Canadian Pediatric Asthma Consensus Guidelines.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 879 asthmatic children (ages 1-18) in the Greater Toronto Area.
  • Utilized a database with demographic, health status, asthma control, and quality of life data.
  • Employed stepwise forward multiple regression analysis to assess socioeconomic impact on asthma control parameters.

Main Results:

  • Only 11% of children achieved acceptable asthma control; 69% had unacceptable control.
  • Children from families with lower income adequacy levels demonstrated poorer asthma control.
  • Socioeconomic status significantly correlated with suboptimal asthma control outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Persistent disparities in pediatric asthma control exist across different socioeconomic strata.
  • These inequities remain even after accounting for primary care utilization and controller medication use.
  • Addressing socioeconomic determinants is vital for improving asthma management in children.
Abstract

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