Predicting admissions for adult asthma exacerbations in North Texas

The purpose of this study was to provide a picture of asthma disparities and the contributions of social and environmental factors to asthma exacerbations in the north central region of Texas, where intense, rapid development is a feature of contemporary life.

Cross-sectional analysis of data associated with 66 hospitals in the 8 counties containing and surrounding the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. Census blocks containing adult asthma patients admitted to emergency departments (ED) or inpatient units for asthma exacerbations in 2014.

Data for secondary analysis were collected from the Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council Foundation.

Sex, family income, education, race, age of housing, speed, and traffic density on neighborhood roads affected asthma admissions. Proximity to urban drilling sites had only a small effect on admissions in this sample. Minorities were significantly more likely to obtain services in the ED than whites.

Attributes associated with poor and underserved patients predicted asthma exacerbations in the target region. These are vulnerable patients who can ill afford further erosion of health care insurance or additional environmental insults.