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Asthma disparities among U.S. children and adults
Cynthia A Pate1, Xiaoting Qin1, Carol Johnson1
1Asthma and Community Health Branch, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Insights
Asthma disproportionately affects certain populations in the US. Socioeconomic factors like income and difficulty paying medical bills are linked to higher asthma prevalence and attacks in children and adults.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Asthma is a significant public health concern in the United States, affecting both children and adults.
- Understanding the demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with asthma prevalence and attacks is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess factors associated with asthma prevalence and asthma attacks in US children and adults.
- To identify specific demographic and socioeconomic disparities in asthma outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey data.
- Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine associations between health outcomes and demographic/socioeconomic factors.
- Adjustments were made for age, sex, and race/ethnicity.
Main Results:
- Asthma was more common in male children, Black children, and those with lower parental education or public insurance.
- Adults with lower education levels, without homeownership, or not in the workforce had higher asthma rates.
- Difficulty paying medical bills and lower family income (<100% or 100-199% Federal Poverty Threshold) were significantly associated with increased asthma prevalence and attacks in both children and adults.
Conclusions:
- Asthma prevalence and attacks are disproportionately higher in specific demographic and socioeconomic groups.
- These findings highlight persistent asthma disparities in the US.
- Increased awareness among public health programs is needed to develop effective, evidence-based interventions for vulnerable populations.
Objective:
To assess factors that are associated with asthma prevalence and asthma attacks among children (0-17 years) and adults (18 years and over) in the United States of America.
Methods:
The 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models to determine associations between health outcomes (i.e. current asthma and asthma attacks) and demographic and socioeconomic factors. Each health outcome was regressed over each characteristic variable, adjusting for age, sex, and race/ethnicity for adults and sex and race/ethnicity for children.
Results:
Asthma was more common among children who were male, blacks, parental education less than bachelor's, or had public health insurance, and among adults who had less than a bachelor's degree, do not own a home, or not in the workforce. Persons in families facing difficulty paying medical bills were more likely to have current asthma (children: aPR = 1.62[1.40-1.88]; adults: aPR = 1.67[1.55-1.81]) and asthma attacks (children: aPR = 1.34[1.15-1.56]; adults: aPR = 1.31[1.20-1.43]). Persons with family income <100% federal poverty threshold (FPT) (children: aPR = 1.39[1.17-1.64]; adults: aPR = 1.64[1.50-1.80]) or adults 100-199% FPT (aPR = 1.28[1.19-1.39]) were more likely to have current asthma. Children and adults with family income <100% FPT and adults 100-199% FPT were also more likely to have asthma attacks. Having asthma attacks was common among adults not in the workforce as well (aPR = 1.17[1.07-1.27]).
Conclusions:
Asthma affects certain groups disproportionately. The findings of this paper suggesting asthma disparities continue to persist may increase public health programs awareness to better deliver effective and evidence-based interventions.
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