Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
Setup of Consumer Wearable Devices for Exposure and Health Monitoring in Population Studies
Published on: February 3, 2023
Predictors of emergency department use in children with persistent asthma in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia
Jeffery M Franklin1, Jocelyn R Grunwell1, Alice C Bruce1
1Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Insights
Racial disparities in pediatric asthma are significant, with Black children experiencing more severe symptoms and frequent emergency department (ED) visits. Tailored interventions are crucial for improving asthma control in diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Health Disparities Research
- Clinical Allergy
Background:
- Non-Hispanic Black children face disproportionately higher risks for poor asthma outcomes in the U.S.
- Frequent emergency department (ED) use for asthma exacerbations is a key indicator of severity in pediatric asthma.
- Understanding racial differences in asthma is critical for developing targeted public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare asthma characteristics between Black and White children in Atlanta, Georgia.
- To identify clinical predictors of future emergency department (ED) visits for asthma in different racial groups.
- To investigate the influence of socioeconomic factors on asthma severity and healthcare utilization.
Main Methods:
- Enrollment of 276 children (ages 6-17) with persistent asthma on controller medications.
- Data collection included medical history, lung function tests, allergen sensitization testing, and blood tests.
- Review of medical records for asthma-related ED visits over a 12-month follow-up period.
Main Results:
- Black children resided in more disadvantaged areas and were more likely to have public insurance compared to White children.
- Black children exhibited more severe asthma features and higher rates of ED visits.
- Predictors for ED use varied by race, with factors like pet/dust sensitization and mold sensitization being significant for White and Black children, respectively, after adjusting for socioeconomic status.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences exist in asthma presentation and emergency care utilization between Black and White children in metropolitan Atlanta.
- Asthma management strategies, including allergen exposure reduction and control optimization, may need racial tailoring.
- Addressing socioeconomic disparities is essential for mitigating asthma-related health inequities in pediatric populations.
Background:
Racial disparities are evident among children with asthma in the United States, with non-Hispanic black children at particularly high risk for poor asthma outcomes, including frequent emergency department (ED) use for asthma exacerbations.
Objective:
To compare asthma features in non-Hispanic black vs white children in Atlanta, Georgia, and determine what clinical features predict future ED use for asthma.
Methods:
Self-reported black and white children 6 to 17 years of age with persistent asthma treated with controller medications completed medical history questionnaires, lung function testing, aeroallergen sensitization testing, and venipuncture. Medical records were reviewed for asthma-related ED visits for 12 months after the initial study visit.
Results:
A total of 276 children were enrolled. Black children, compared with white children, resided in more disadvantaged zip code areas and were more likely to have public insurance. Black children also had more features of asthma severity and more ED visits during the study period. Predictors of ED use, aside from a previous ED visit, differed by race. After adjustment for socioeconomic status, predictors of ED use in white children included an ED visit in the previous year and sensitization to pets and dust; in black children, predictors included ED use in the previous year, the number of asthma controller medications, forced expiratory volume in 1 second less than 80% predicted, blood eosinophil count greater than 4%, and mold sensitization.
Conclusion:
Asthma features and ED use differ between black and white children in metropolitan Atlanta. Strategies to eliminate allergen exposure in the home and improve asthma control in these children may require tailoring for different racial groups.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
01:30Adrenergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses
Emergency and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) applications: Pressor agents increase blood pressure, heart rate, and contractility in shock and organ failure situations. Dopamine can induce vasodilation and stimulate adrenoceptors. Endogenous catecholamines are effective in treating cardiogenic shock. α2-agonists like clonidine can reverse anesthesia-induced hypertension.
Allergies and...
01:30Asthma-IV: Nursing Management
First, in...
01:25Antiasthma Drugs: β2-Adrenoceptor Agonists
One class of bronchodilators includes β2-adrenoceptor agonists. These agents target the β2-adrenoceptors located on bronchial smooth muscle cells. By stimulating these receptors, β2-agonists induce...