How asthma and other skin conditions cluster in Black children and a finding of increased risk of respiratory infections in Black and Mexican-American children with asthma were among the studies presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) conference.
Various abstracts presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) conference highlighted racial disparities that impact treatment and clinical outcomes for adults and children with asthma and other atopic conditions.
How asthma, skin conditions cluster in Black children
It is already known that Black children have higher rates of asthma and eczema than White children, but how these conditions appear together in Black children is unknown. The University of Texas at Austin and Dell Medical School analyzed National Health Survey interview data from 2018, finding Black children had 1.5-fold higher prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD), 2.4-fold higher prevalence of asthma, and 3-fold higher prevalence of comorbid asthma and eczema than White children.1 The high prevalence of asthma and eczema may have negative impacts on factors such as quality of life, school attendance, behavior, and mental health, the authors said.
Survey-weighted estimated prevalence of the different conditions were:
Additional research is needed to understand the common risk factors for both conditions in Black populations in order to identify targeted therapies and interventions, the authors said.
Increased risk of respiratory infection in Black and Mexican-American children with asthma
Another University of Texas and Dell Medical School study examined the impact of an upper respiratory viral infection (URI) on the lungs among different racial and ethnic groups.2 Data came from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2007-2012) and included information on children aged 6-17 with asthma. Researchers used survey-weighted generalized linear models to estimate the association of self-reported cold (URI, such as cough, cold, phlegm, runny nose, or other respiratory illness) to race/ethnicity.
They also examined the effect of URI on fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), or lung function (% predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity [FVC]), varied by race/ethnicity. Models were adjusted for age, sex, household size, health insurance, and income.
Results showed that Black and Mexican-American children had increased odds of URI compared with White children (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.12-3.14 vs OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 0.76-4.82).
However, having a URI did not appear to impact lung function, although FENO was 26% higher among children with a URI compared with children without a URI. In addition, neither URI or FENO varied by race or ethnicity. “URIs do not appear to manifest differently in the lung, suggesting that disparities in asthma exacerbations could be driven instead by differences in risk of infection,” the authors wrote.
References
1. Croce E, Bhavnani, D, Varshney P, et al. Racial disparities in burden of comorbid asthma and eczema. Abstract presented at: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; February 25, 2023. San Antonio, Texas. Session 202.
2. Bhavnani D, Chambliss S, Rathouz P, et al. Are black and latinx children with asthma more vulnerable than white children to upper respiratory viral infection? Abstract presented at: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; February 25, 2023. San Antonio, Texas. Session 234.
Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
Listen
Alcohol Use Disorder Equally Linked to Suicide Across Genders, Study Finds
March 15th 2024Illuminating the critical intersection of substance use and mental health, these findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address alcohol use disorder within suicide prevention efforts.
Read More
Drs Raymond Thertulien, Joseph Mikhael on Racial Disparities in Multiple Myeloma Care Access
December 28th 2023In the wake of the 2023 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, Raymond Thertulien, MD, PhD, of Novant Health, and Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, discussed health equity research highlights from the meeting and drivers of racial disparities in multiple myeloma outcomes.
Listen
Contributor: Breaking the Cycle—RSAT Program Improving Reentry in Arizona
March 15th 2024Arizona is well suited to benefit from its 1115 demonstration waiver requested from CMS because it already has a robust justice-involved reentry initiative called the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program, which is emerging as an archetype of successful reentry programs that can serve as a template for other states to emulate.
Read More