Poverty and Trends in Three Common Chronic Disorders

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Epidemiology
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

• Rising prevalence of childhood asthma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Understanding the influence of socioeconomic factors, particularly poverty, on these conditions and their comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in the prevalence and comorbidity of asthma, ADHD, and ASD in children.
• To investigate how poverty status affects these trends and predicts higher comorbidity rates.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of the National Survey of Children's Health (2003, 2007, 2011-2012).
• Examined parent-reported lifetime prevalence and comorbidity variations by poverty status and insurance.
• Multivariable regression used to assess poverty as a predictor of comorbidity.

Main Results:

• Asthma prevalence increased 18%, ADHD 44%, and ASD nearly 400%.
• Asthma rise was highest among the poor; ADHD changes varied by poverty level.
• ASD prevalence increase was associated with non-poor status; publicly insured children had higher comorbidity odds.

Conclusions:

• Poverty status significantly influences the prevalence and comorbidity of childhood asthma, ADHD, and ASD.
• The impact of poverty varies across these conditions, necessitating further research into underlying factors.
• Future studies should explore parent and system-level factors explaining poverty's differential effects.