Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
08:05

Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma

Published on: May 14, 2012

Cultural-related, contextual, and asthma-specific risks associated with asthma morbidity in urban children

Daphne Koinis-Mitchell1, Elizabeth L McQuaid, Sheryl J Kopel

  • 1Child and Family Psychiatry, Bradley/Hasbro Research Center, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Daphne_Koinis-Mitchell@Brown.edu

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
|February 17, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Specific risks impact childhood asthma morbidity across ethnic groups. Contextual and cultural factors disproportionately affect African American and Latino children, informing targeted interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Asthma Research
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Asthma remains a significant health concern for urban school-aged children.
  • Ethnic and socioeconomic factors contribute to disparities in asthma morbidity.
  • The Cumulative Risk Index (CRI) offers a multi-dimensional approach to assess risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between specific dimensions of the CRI and asthma morbidity in diverse urban children.
  • To determine the prevalence of high-risk status across CRI dimensions by ethnic group.
  • To identify culturally specific risk factors influencing asthma outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 264 urban children (ages 7-15) with asthma and their caregivers.
  • Interview-based questionnaires assessed cultural, contextual, and asthma-specific risks.
  • Statistical analyses examined associations between CRI dimensions and asthma morbidity, stratified by ethnicity.

Main Results:

  • Higher asthma-related risks correlated with increased functional morbidity across all ethnic backgrounds.
  • Contextual and cultural risk dimensions were significantly associated with greater morbidity in African American and Latino children.
  • Within Latino subgroups, Puerto Rican children showed a stronger association between contextual/cultural risks and morbidity compared to Dominican children.

Conclusions:

  • Asthma morbidity is influenced by specific risk dimensions, with varying impact across ethnic groups.
  • Culturally sensitive interventions are crucial for addressing asthma disparities in urban minority children.
  • Understanding ethnic-specific risk profiles can optimize clinical management and improve health outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

Asthma-I: Introduction01:29

Asthma-I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that requires careful management due to its varying symptoms and influencing factors. It is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptom frequency and intensity may vary considerably over time. It is also linked to immune system responses to allergens and irritants, highlighting the complex...
Asthma I: Introduction01:28

Asthma I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by variable airflow obstruction and heightened bronchial responsiveness to a wide range of triggers. The underlying inflammation leads to airway swelling, mucus hypersecretion, and smooth muscle constriction, all of which narrow the airway lumen and impede airflow. Clinically, asthma presents with recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, symptoms that typically vary in intensity and...
Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications01:24

Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications

Asthma, a common chronic respiratory condition, is classified considering the frequency and severity of symptoms alongside lung function impairment. Understanding this classification is essential for appropriate treatment and management. Here's a detailed look at the classification of asthma and its clinical features and complications:
Classification of Asthma
Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations01:13

Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations

Asthma presents with a characteristic pattern of episodic respiratory symptoms that reflect underlying airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion. Although severity varies among individuals, certain clinical manifestations are considered hallmarks of the disorder and often guide diagnosis and assessment.Respiratory SymptomsA persistent cough is one of the most common early features of asthma. It is frequently dry and tends to worsen at night or in the early morning,...
Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management01:20

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition involving inflammation of the airways, hyper-reactivity, and reversible obstruction of the airways. This condition can significantly impact a person's quality of life, making breathing difficult and leading to distressing symptoms.
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification01:26

Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition marked by inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neural mechanisms.
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include: