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Thakur N, Balmes JR. Fine-Scale Neighborhood Air Pollution Mapping: A First Step Toward Decoding Racial Asthma Disparities. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2024; 210:134-136. [PMID: 38602863 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202403-0591ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Neeta Thakur
- Department of Medicine University of California San Francisco San Francisco, California
| | - John R Balmes
- Department of Medicine University of California San Francisco San Francisco, California
- School of Public Health University of California Berkeley Berkeley, California
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2
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Skeen EH, Moore CM, Federico MJ, Seibold MA, Liu AH, Hamlington KL. The Child Opportunity Index 2.0 and exacerbation-prone asthma in a cohort of urban children. Pediatr Pulmonol 2024; 59:1894-1904. [PMID: 38558492 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Social determinants of health underlie disparities in asthma. However, the effects of individual determinants likely interact, so a summary metric may better capture their impact. The Child Opportunity Index 2.0 (COI) is one such tool, yet its association with exacerbation-prone (EP) asthma is unknown. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between the COI and EP asthma and clinical measures of asthma severity in children. METHODS We analyzed data from two prospective observational pediatric asthma cohorts (n = 193). Children were classified as EP (≥1 exacerbation in the past 12 months) or exacerbation-null (no exacerbations in the past 5 years). Spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide, IgE, and Composite Asthma Severity Index (CASI) were obtained. The association between COI and EP status was assessed with logistic regression. We fit linear and logistic regression models to test the association between COI and each clinical measure. RESULTS A 20-point COI decrease conferred 40% higher odds of EP asthma (OR 1.4; 95%CI 1.1-1.76). The effect was similar when adjusted for age and sex (OR 1.38, 95%CI 1.1-1.75) but was attenuated with additional adjustment for race and ethnicity (OR 1.19, 95%CI 0.92-1.54). A similar effect was seen for the Social/Economic and Education COI domains but not the Health/Environment Domain. A 20-point COI decrease was associated with an increase in CASI of 0.34. COI was not associated with other clinical measures. CONCLUSIONS Lower COI was associated with greater odds of EP asthma. This highlights the potential use of the COI to understand neighborhood-level risk and identify community targets to reduce asthma disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily H Skeen
- Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Camille M Moore
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Monica J Federico
- Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Max A Seibold
- Center for Genes, Environment and Health, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrew H Liu
- Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Katharine L Hamlington
- Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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3
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Zárate RA, Bhavnani D, Chambliss S, Hall EM, Zigler C, Cubbin C, Wilkinson M, Matsui EC. Neighborhood-level variability in asthma-related emergency department visits in Central Texas. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024:S0091-6749(24)00568-2. [PMID: 38851399 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The extent to which incidence rates of asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits vary from neighborhood to neighborhood and predictors of neighborhood-level asthma ED visit burden are not well understood. OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe the census tract-level spatial distribution of asthma-related ED visits in Central Texas and identify neighborhood-level characteristics that explain variability in neighborhood-level asthma ED visit rates. METHODS Conditional autoregressive models were used to examine the spatial distribution of asthma-related ED visit incidence rates across census tracts in Travis County, Texas, and assess the contribution of census tract characteristics to their distribution. RESULTS There were distinct patterns in ED visit incidence rates at the census tract scale. These patterns were largely unexplained by socioeconomic or selected built environment neighborhood characteristics. However, racial and ethnic composition explained 33% of the variability of ED visit incidence rates across census tracts. The census tract predictors of ED visit incidence rates differed by racial and ethnic group. CONCLUSIONS Variability in asthma ED visit incidence rates are apparent at smaller spatial scales. Most of the variability in census tract-level asthma ED visit rates in Central Texas is not explained by racial and ethnic composition or other neighborhood characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Zárate
- Department of Population Health, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Center for Health and Environment: Education and Research, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex
| | - Darlene Bhavnani
- Department of Population Health, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Center for Health and Environment: Education and Research, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex
| | - Sarah Chambliss
- Department of Population Health, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Center for Health and Environment: Education and Research, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex
| | - Emily M Hall
- Center for Health and Environment: Education and Research, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Department of Women's Health, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex
| | - Corwin Zigler
- Center for Health and Environment: Education and Research, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex
| | - Catherine Cubbin
- Center for Health and Environment: Education and Research, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex
| | - Matthew Wilkinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex
| | - Elizabeth C Matsui
- Department of Population Health, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Center for Health and Environment: Education and Research, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Department of Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex.
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4
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Tyris J, Putnick DL, Bell EM, McAdam J, Lin TC, Parikh K, Yeung E. Child Opportunity Index Mobility, Recurrent Wheezing, and Asthma in Early Childhood: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study. J Pediatr 2024; 272:114121. [PMID: 38815746 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
We prospectively examined associations between mobility in neighborhood opportunity and early childhood recurrent wheezing/asthma. Downward mobility was associated with developing asthma, but not recurrent wheezing, though associations were attenuated after adjusting for family-level socioeconomic status. Elucidating how neighborhoods impact asthma may inform asthma equity initiatives in early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Tyris
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC; Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC; Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
| | - Diane L Putnick
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Erin M Bell
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY
| | - Jordan McAdam
- Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Kavita Parikh
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC; Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC
| | - Edwina Yeung
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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5
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Gabbay JM, Mayourian J, Bajaj BVM, Wu AC, Graham RJ, Perez JM. Child opportunity and outcomes in pediatric critical asthma: A multicenter analysis. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2024:S2213-2198(24)00437-9. [PMID: 38703821 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2024.04.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Gabbay
- Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
| | - Joshua Mayourian
- Division of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Benjamin V M Bajaj
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Ann Chen Wu
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Robert J Graham
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Jennifer M Perez
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
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6
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Adgent MA, Buth E, Noroña-Zhou A, Szpiro AA, Loftus CT, Moore PE, Wright RJ, Barrett ES, LeWinn KZ, Zhao Q, Nguyen R, Karr CJ, Bush NR, Carroll KN. Maternal stressful life events during pregnancy and childhood asthma and wheeze. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2024; 132:594-601.e3. [PMID: 38122928 PMCID: PMC11069451 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2023.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have linked prenatal maternal psychosocial stress to childhood wheeze/asthma but have rarely investigated factors that may mitigate risks. OBJECTIVE To investigate associations between prenatal stress and childhood wheeze/asthma, evaluating factors that may modify stress effects. METHODS Participants included 2056 mother-child dyads from Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO)-PATHWAYS, a consortium of 3 prospective pregnancy cohorts (the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood study, The Infant Development and Environment Study, and a subset of the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth study) from 6 cities. Maternal stressful life events experienced during pregnancy (PSLEs) were reported using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Stressful Life Events questionnaire. Parents reported child wheeze/asthma outcomes at age 4 to 6 years using standardized questionnaires. We defined outcomes as ever asthma, current wheeze, current asthma, and strict asthma. We used modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors (SEs) to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CI per 1-unit increase in PSLE, adjusting for confounders. We evaluated effect modification by child sex, maternal history of asthma, maternal childhood traumatic life events, neighborhood-level resources, and breastfeeding. RESULTS Overall, we observed significantly elevated risk for current wheeze with increasing PSLE (RR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.03-1.14]), but not for other outcomes. We observed significant effect modification by child sex for strict asthma (P interaction = .03), in which risks were elevated in boys (RR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.02-1.19]) but not in girls. For all other outcomes, risks were significantly elevated in boys and not in girls, although there was no statistically significant evidence of effect modification. We observed no evidence of effect modification by other factors (P interactions > .05). CONCLUSION Risk of adverse childhood respiratory outcomes is higher with increasing maternal PSLEs, particularly in boys.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erin Buth
- University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Emily S. Barrett
- Rutgers School of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute; Piscataway NJ
| | - Kaja Z. LeWinn
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco CA
| | - Qi Zhao
- University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis TN
| | | | | | - Nicole R. Bush
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco CA
| | - Kecia N. Carroll
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY
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7
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Domingo KN, Gabaldon KL, Hussari MN, Yap JM, Valmadrid LC, Robinson K, Leibel S. Impact of climate change on paediatric respiratory health: pollutants and aeroallergens. Eur Respir Rev 2024; 33:230249. [PMID: 39009406 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0249-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Paediatric populations are particularly vulnerable to respiratory diseases caused and exacerbated by aeroallergens, pollutants and infectious agents. Worsening climate change is expected to increase the prevalence of pollutants and aeroallergens while amplifying disease severity and causing disproportionate effects in under-resourced areas. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarise the role of anthropogenic climate change in the literature examining the future impact of aeroallergens, pollutants and infectious agents on paediatric respiratory diseases with a focus on equitable disease mitigation. The aeroallergens selected for discussion include pollen, dust mites and mould as these are prevalent triggers of paediatric asthma worldwide. Human rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus are key viruses interacting with climate change and pollution and are primary causal agents of viral respiratory disease. Within this review, we present the propensity for aeroallergens, climate change and pollution to synergistically exacerbate paediatric respiratory disease and outline measures that can ameliorate the expected increase in morbidity and severity of disease through a health equity lens. We support shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy worldwide, across sectors, as a primary means of reducing increases in morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karyssa N Domingo
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- K.N. Domingo and K.L. Gabaldon contributed equally
| | - Kiersten L Gabaldon
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- K.N. Domingo and K.L. Gabaldon contributed equally
| | | | - Jazmyn M Yap
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Kelly Robinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sydney Leibel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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8
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Croce EA, Parast L, Bhavnani D, Matsui EC. Lower socioeconomic status may help explain racial disparities in asthma and atopic dermatitis prevalence: A mediation analysis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 153:1140-1147.e3. [PMID: 37995856 PMCID: PMC11046418 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial disparities in atopic disease (atopic dermatitis [AD], asthma, and allergies) prevalence are well documented. Despite strong associations between race and socioeconomic deprivation in the United States, and socioeconomic status (SES) and atopic diseases, the extent to which SES explains these disparities is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE We sought to identify racial disparities in childhood atopic disease prevalence and determine what proportion of those disparities is mediated by SES. METHODS This study used the National Health Interview Survey (2011-2018) to investigate AD, asthma, and respiratory allergy prevalence in Black and White children and the extent to which measures of SES explain any identified disparities. RESULTS By race, prevalences were as follows: AD, White 11.8% (95% CI: 11.4%, 12.2%) and Black 17.4% (95% CI: 16.6%, 18.3%); asthma prevalence, White 7.4% (95% CI: 7.0%, 7.7%) and Black 14.3% (95% CI: 13.5%, 15.0%); respiratory allergy, White 11.4% (95% CI: 11.0%, 11.9%) and Black 10.9% (95% CI: 10.3%, 11.6%). The percentage of the disparity between racial groups and disease prevalence explained by a multivariable measure of SES was 25% (95% CI: 15%, 36%) for Black versus White children with AD and 47% (95% CI: 40%, 54%) for Black versus White children with asthma. CONCLUSIONS In a nationally representative US population, Black children had higher prevalence of AD and asthma than White children did and similar prevalence of respiratory allergy; a multivariable SES measure explained a proportion of the association between Black versus White race and AD and a much larger proportion for asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Croce
- Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Dell Children's Medical Group, Austin, Tex
| | - Layla Parast
- Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex
| | | | - Elizabeth C Matsui
- Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex; Dell Children's Medical Group, Austin, Tex.
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9
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Perry TT, Grant TL, Dantzer JA, Udemgba C, Jefferson AA. Impact of socioeconomic factors on allergic diseases. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 153:368-377. [PMID: 37967769 PMCID: PMC10922531 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Allergic and immunologic conditions, including asthma, food allergy, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis, are among the most common chronic conditions in children and adolescents that often last into adulthood. Although rare, inborn errors of immunity are life-altering and potentially fatal if unrecognized or untreated. Thus, allergic and immunologic conditions are both medical and public health issues that are profoundly affected by socioeconomic factors. Recently, studies have highlighted societal issues to evaluate factors at multiple levels that contribute to health inequities and the potential steps toward closing those gaps. Socioeconomic disparities can influence all aspects of care, including health care access and quality, diagnosis, management, education, and disease prevalence and outcomes. Ongoing research, engagement, and deliberate investment of resources by relevant stakeholders and advocacy approaches are needed to identify and address the impact of socioeconomics on health care disparities and outcomes among patients with allergic and immunologic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara T Perry
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Ark; Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Ark.
| | - Torie L Grant
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | | | - Chioma Udemgba
- National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md
| | - Akilah A Jefferson
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Ark; Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Ark
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10
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Gabbay JM, Abrams EM, Nyenhuis SM, Wu AC. Housing Insecurity and Asthma Outcomes. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2024; 12:327-333. [PMID: 37871647 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease with widespread prevalence that affects children, adolescents, and adults. Asthma morbidity and mortality can be exacerbated in the setting of housing insecurity. In this Grand Rounds Review article, we present a case and discuss the implications that housing insecurity has on asthma outcomes in the United States. We then highlight ways in which providers can advocate for patients with asthma and housing insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elissa M Abrams
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Sharmilee M Nyenhuis
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Allergy and Immunology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill
| | - Ann Chen Wu
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Division of Child Health Research and Policy, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Mass
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11
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Johnson KM, Cheng L, Yin Y, Carter R, Chow S, Brigham E, Law MR. Impact of income-based public drug coverage deductibles on adherence to asthma medications. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2024; 132:223-228.e8. [PMID: 37871771 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2023.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cost-related nonadherence to medications can be a barrier to asthma management. OBJECTIVE To quantify the impact of public drug plan deductibles on adherence to asthma medications. METHODS We used a quasi-experimental regression discontinuity analysis to determine whether thresholds in deductibles for public drug coverage, determined on the basis of annual household income, decreased medication use among lower-income children and adults with asthma in British Columbia from 2013 to 2018. Using dispensed medication records, we evaluated deductible thresholds at annual household incomes of $15,000 (a deductible increase from 0% to 2% of annual household income), and $30,000 (a deductible increase from 2% to 3% annual household income). We evaluated medication costs, use, the ratio of inhaled corticosteroids-containing controller medications to total medications, excessive use of short-acting β-agonists, and the proportion of days covered by controller therapies. All costs are reported in 2020 Canadian dollars. RESULTS Overall, 88,935 individuals contributed 443,847 person-years of follow-up (57% of female sex, mean age 31 years). Public drug subsidy decreased by -$41.74 (95% CI, -$28.34 to -$55.13) at the $15,000-deductible threshold, a 28% reduction, and patient costs increased by $48.45 (95% CI, $35.37-$61.53). The $30,000 deductible threshold did not affect public drug costs (P = .31), but patient costs increased by $27.65 (95% CI, $15.22-$40.09), which is an 11% increase. Asthma-related medication use, inhaled corticosteroids-to-total medication ratio, excessive use of short-acting β-agonists, and proportion of days covered by controller therapies were not impacted by deductible thresholds. CONCLUSION Income-based deductibles reduced public drug costs with no effect on asthma-related medication use, adherence to controller therapies, or excessive reliever therapy use in lower-income individuals with asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Johnson
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Lucy Cheng
- Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yiwei Yin
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rachel Carter
- Patient Partner, Community Partner Committee, Legacy for Airway Health, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Santa Chow
- Patient Partner, Community Partner Committee, Legacy for Airway Health, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Emily Brigham
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael R Law
- Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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12
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Zaeh SE, Chupp G, Eakin MN. Is there a best strategy to prevent asthma exacerbations in inner-city patients with asthma? Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2024; 132:11-12. [PMID: 37433383 PMCID: PMC10774450 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra E Zaeh
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Geoffrey Chupp
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Michelle N Eakin
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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13
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Jackson-Browne MS, Patti MA, Henderson NB, Hauptman M, Phipatanakul W. Asthma and Environmental Exposures to Phenols, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Phthalates in Children. Curr Environ Health Rep 2023; 10:469-477. [PMID: 37973722 PMCID: PMC10877704 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00417-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Medina S Jackson-Browne
- Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Member of the Faculty, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, LM 7605.1, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Marisa A Patti
- AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Noelle B Henderson
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marissa Hauptman
- Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Member of the Faculty, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, LM 7605.1, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- New England Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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14
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Aris IM, Perng W, Dabelea D, Padula AM, Alshawabkeh A, Vélez-Vega CM, Aschner JL, Camargo CA, Sussman TJ, Dunlop AL, Elliott AJ, Ferrara A, Joseph CLM, Singh AM, Breton CV, Hartert T, Cacho F, Karagas MR, Lester BM, Kelly NR, Ganiban JM, Chu SH, O’Connor TG, Fry RC, Norman G, Trasande L, Restrepo B, Gold DR, James P, Oken E. Neighborhood Opportunity and Vulnerability and Incident Asthma Among Children. JAMA Pediatr 2023; 177:1055-1064. [PMID: 37639269 PMCID: PMC10463174 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.3133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Background The extent to which physical and social attributes of neighborhoods play a role in childhood asthma remains understudied. Objective To examine associations of neighborhood-level opportunity and social vulnerability measures with childhood asthma incidence. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used data from children in 46 cohorts participating in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program between January 1, 1995, and August 31, 2022. Participant inclusion required at least 1 geocoded residential address from birth and parent or caregiver report of a physician's diagnosis of asthma. Participants were followed up to the date of asthma diagnosis, date of last visit or loss to follow-up, or age 20 years. Exposures Census tract-level Child Opportunity Index (COI) and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) at birth, infancy, or early childhood, grouped into very low (<20th percentile), low (20th to <40th percentile), moderate (40th to <60th percentile), high (60th to <80th percentile), or very high (≥80th percentile) COI or SVI. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was parent or caregiver report of a physician's diagnosis of childhood asthma (yes or no). Poisson regression models estimated asthma incidence rate ratios (IRRs) associated with COI and SVI scores at each life stage. Results The study included 10 516 children (median age at follow-up, 9.1 years [IQR, 7.0-11.6 years]; 52.2% male), of whom 20.6% lived in neighborhoods with very high COI and very low SVI. The overall asthma incidence rate was 23.3 cases per 1000 child-years (median age at asthma diagnosis, 6.6 years [IQR, 4.1-9.9 years]). High and very high (vs very low) COI at birth, infancy, or early childhood were associated with lower subsequent asthma incidence independent of sociodemographic characteristics, parental asthma history, and parity. For example, compared with very low COI, the adjusted IRR for asthma was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.75-1.00) for high COI at birth and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.71-0.98) for very high COI at birth. These associations appeared to be attributable to the health and environmental and the social and economic domains of the COI. The SVI during early life was not significantly associated with asthma incidence. For example, compared with a very high SVI, the adjusted IRR for asthma was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.75-1.02) for low SVI at birth and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.76-1.03) for very low SVI at birth. Conclusions In this cohort study, high and very high neighborhood opportunity during early life compared with very low neighborhood opportunity were associated with lower childhood asthma incidence. These findings suggest the need for future studies examining whether investing in health and environmental or social and economic resources in early life would promote health equity in pediatric asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izzuddin M. Aris
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Wei Perng
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
| | - Amy M. Padula
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Akram Alshawabkeh
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Carmen M. Vélez-Vega
- University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Judy L. Aschner
- Department of Pediatrics, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, New Jersey
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Carlos A. Camargo
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Tamara J. Sussman
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Anne L. Dunlop
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Amy J. Elliott
- Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls
| | - Assiamira Ferrara
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | | | - Anne Marie Singh
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison
| | - Carrie V. Breton
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Tina Hartert
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Ferdinand Cacho
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Margaret R. Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Barry M. Lester
- Department of Pediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Nichole R. Kelly
- Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services, Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene
| | - Jody M. Ganiban
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Su H. Chu
- Department of Medicine, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Rebecca C. Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
| | - Gwendolyn Norman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Leonardo Trasande
- Department of Pediatrics, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York
| | - Bibiana Restrepo
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento
| | - Diane R. Gold
- Department of Medicine, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Peter James
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
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15
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Pollack CE, Matsui EC, Keet CA. Housing Mobility Intervention for Childhood Asthma-Reply. JAMA 2023; 330:1097. [PMID: 37721613 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Craig Evan Pollack
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Elizabeth C Matsui
- Department of Population Health, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin
| | - Corinne A Keet
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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16
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Ko S, Hsu NC. Housing Mobility Intervention for Childhood Asthma. JAMA 2023; 330:1096. [PMID: 37721618 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.12733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shen Ko
- Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nin-Chieh Hsu
- National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch, Taipei, Taiwan
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17
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Rolla G. Why Current Therapy Does Not Cure Asthma. Is It Time to Move Towards a One Health Approach? J Asthma Allergy 2023; 16:933-936. [PMID: 37692125 PMCID: PMC10488599 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s429646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma continues to be a disease for which there is no cure, even if it can be very well controlled with the appropriate therapies, which take into account the specific phenotype. The paradox of asthma is that asthma can heal spontaneously, albeit in a small percentage of cases. This observation is highly relevant, since understanding the mechanisms of spontaneous healing can pave the way for new strategies for treating asthma. It is likely that the lack of cure for asthma is due to the fact that current therapies target downstream mediators of the inflammatory response. Asthma can be considered a response of maladaptation of the airway epithelium to the environment, through the orientation of the innate immunity towards an inflammatory response. The important effect of the environment on asthma progress comes from interventions which help children who live in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods move to higher resourced neighborhoods. It is quite interesting that the magnitude of decrease of exacerbations associated with moving was larger than the effect of inhaled corticosteroids and similar to that observed for the effect of biologic agents. Alpine altitude climate treatment is a natural treatment that targets biological pathway, improving various outcomes such as asthma control and quality of life, exacerbation rate and hospitalizations. If as researchers we want to set ourselves the goal of achieving complete remission of asthma, without the need for ongoing maintenance treatment, we need to change the approach to finding new asthma treatment strategies. The One Health approach, an interdisciplinary strategy with focal point on human, animal, and environmental health interconnections, appears to be the right tool for researching asthma prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Rolla
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
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18
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Gabbay JM, Wu AC. Housing Mobility Intervention and the Impact on Pediatric Asthma Morbidity: A Novel Asthma-Directed Therapy. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2023; 11:2622-2623. [PMID: 37558365 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ann Chen Wu
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Division of Child Health Research and Policy, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Mass
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