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Published on: November 4, 2010

Racial disparities in pediatric asthma: a review of the literature

Tanisha D Hill1, LeRoy M Graham, Varada Divgi

  • 1Georgia Pediatric Pulmonology Associates, 1100 Lake Hearn Drive, Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30342, USA. tdhill@gppa.net

Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
|November 26, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric asthma disparities in urban children are linked to socioeconomic factors, genetics, and environmental exposures. Addressing these complex issues requires understanding gene-environment interactions and improving healthcare access.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Health Disparities Research

Background:

  • Asthma disproportionately impacts children in low-income urban settings.
  • Existing research highlights factors like ethnicity, genetics, socioeconomic status, and environmental triggers in pediatric asthma disparity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent studies on additional factors contributing to pediatric asthma disparity.
  • To synthesize current knowledge on the multifaceted causes of asthma burden in urban children.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on pediatric asthma disparity.
  • Analysis of factors including gene-environment interactions, vitamin D metabolism, and healthcare access.

Main Results:

  • Gene-environment interactions play a significant role in asthma disparities.
  • Vitamin D metabolism, socioeconomic status, and urban environmental factors are critical.
  • Healthcare setting and patient health beliefs also contribute to disparities.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric asthma disparities result from a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, and healthcare system factors.
  • Further research is needed to address these multifaceted contributors to improve asthma outcomes in vulnerable populations.

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