Advancing a multilevel framework for epidemiologic research on asthma disparities

Application of Hierarchical/Multilevel Models and Quality of Reporting (2010-2020): A Systematic Review

Introduction

Multilevel models have gained immense popularity across almost every discipline due to the presence of hierarchy in most data and phenomena. In this paper, we present a systematic review on the adoption and application of multilevel models and the important information reported on the results generated from the use of these models.

Methods

The review was performed by searching Google Scholar for original research articles on the application of multilevel models published between 2010 and 2020. The search strategy involved topics such as "multilevel models," "hierarchical linear models," and "mixed models with hierarchy." The search placed more emphasis on the application of hierarchical models in any discipline but excluded software methodological development and related articles.

Results

A total of 121 articles were initially obtained from the search results. However, 65 articles met the inclusion criteria for the review. Out of the 65 articles reviewed, 46.2% were related to health/epidemiology, 15.4% to education and psychology, and 16.9% to social life. The majority of the articles (78.5%) were two-level models, and most of these studies modelled univariate responses. However, the few that modelled more than one response modelled them separately. Moreover, 83.1% were cross-sectional design, and 9.2% and 6.2% were longitudinal and repeated measures, respectively. Moreover, a little over half (55.4%) of articles reported on the intraclass correlation measure, and all articles indicated the response variable distribution where most (47.7%) were normally distributed. Only 58.5% of articles reported on the estimation methods used as Bayesian (20%) and MLE (18.5%). Again, model validation measures and statistical software were reported in 70.8% and 90.8% articles, respectively.

Conclusion

There is an increase in the utilization of multilevel modelling in the last decade, which could be attributed to the presence of clustered and hierarchically correlated data structures. There is a need for improvement in the area of measurement and reporting on the intraclass correlation, parameter estimation, and variable selection measures to further improve the quality of the application of multilevel models. The integration of spatial effects into multilevel models is very limited and needs to be explored in the future.

Impact of socioeconomic factors on allergic diseases

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.

Neighborhood Opportunity and Vulnerability and Incident Asthma Among Children

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.

Pursuing a Cross-Sector Approach to Advance Child Health Equity

Cross-sector partnerships are essential to ensure a safe and effective system of care for children, their caregivers, and communities. A "system of care" should have a well-defined population, vision, and measures shared by health care and community stakeholders, and an efficient modality for tracking progress toward better, more equitable outcomes. Effective partnerships could be clinically integrated, built atop coordinated awareness and assistance, and community-connected opportunities for networked learning. As opportunities for partnership continue to be uncovered, it will be vital to broadly assess their impact, using clinical and nonclinical metrics.

Parental Education and Adolescents' Asthma: The Role of Ethnicity

While high parental education is associated with better health, this association may be weaker for ethnic minority than for ethnic majority families. It is unknown whether the association between parental education and adolescents' asthma also varies by ethnicity.

AIM

To study the association between parental education and adolescents' asthma overall and by ethnicity.

METHODS

The current study used data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH)-Adolescents study. All participants were 12 to 17-year-old non-smokers (n = 8652). The outcome of interest was adolescents' asthma. The predictor of interest was baseline parental education, the covariates were age, sex, and number of parents present at baseline, and the moderator was ethnicity.

RESULTS

According to logistic regression analyses, higher parental education was predictive of adolescents' asthma; however, this association was weaker for Latino than non-Latino adolescents (OR 1.771; CI 1.282-2.446). We did not find a significant difference in the effect of parental education on asthma of White and African American adolescents. Our stratified models also showed that higher parental education was associated with lower asthma for non-Latino but not for Latino adolescents.

CONCLUSION

The effect of high parental education on adolescents' asthma prevalence differs between Latino and non-Latino families, with Latino families showing weaker protective effects of parental education on adolescents' asthma. Future research should test the role of exposure to environmental pollutants, neighborhood quality, and prevalence of smoking in social network members as well as other contextual factors at home, in school, and in the neighborhood that may increase prevalence of asthma in Latino adolescents regardless of their parental education. Given that these potential causes are multi-level, potential causes of such disparities should be tested in future multi-level research.

Geospatial data in pediatric asthma in the United States: a scoping review protocol

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this scoping review is to identify and describe the literature on the use of geospatial data in pediatric asthma research.

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is one of the most common pediatric chronic diseases in the United States, disproportionately affecting low-income patients. Asthma exacerbations may be triggered by local environmental factors, such as air pollution or exposure to indoor allergens. Geographic information systems are increasingly recognized as tools that use geospatial data to enhance understanding of the link between environmental exposure, social determinants of health, and clinical outcomes. Geospatial data in pediatric asthma may help inform risk factors for asthma severity, and guide targeted clinical and social interventions.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

This review will consider studies that utilize geospatial data in the evaluation of pediatric patients with asthma, ages 2 to 18 years, in the United States. Mixed samples of adults and children will also be considered. Geospatial data will include any external non-clinical geographic-based data source that uses a patient's environment or context.

METHODS

The following databases will be searched: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, ERIC, Web of Science, and IEEE. Gray literature will be searched in DBLP, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Google Scholar, Google search, and a hand search of recent abstracts from relevant conferences. Articles published in English, Spanish, and French from 2010 to the present will be included. Study screening and selection will be performed independently by 2 reviewers. Data extraction will be performed by a trained research team member following pilot testing.

Community Interventions for Childhood Asthma ED Visits and Hospitalizations: A Systematic Review

A systematic review of interventions in community environments found significant reductions in childhood asthma exacerbations leading to emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Structural and social determinants of childhood asthma inequities manifest within geographic communities that are often segregated. Childhood asthma disproportionately affects Black, Hispanic, and low-income populations. Community interventions have the potential to improve inequities in emergency healthcare. This systematic review was conducted to assess the effectiveness of childhood asthma community interventions and provide a conceptual model to inform implementation of future community interventions.

METHODS

Publications from PubMed, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and hand searched references were examined from 2010 to 2021. Community intervention studies among children with asthma were included. Main outcomes were emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Community interventions exclusively focusing on schools or hospitals were excluded. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility for final inclusion. Emergency healthcare findings were extracted in addition to co-benefits (eg, fewer missed school days and caregiver workdays).

RESULTS

Out of 1856 records, 26 publications met the inclusion criteria. Community interventions were categorized by care coordination (n = 8), policy and environmental changes (eg, smoke-free legislature, traffic reduction models, and green housing) (n = 8), home-based (n = 6), and community-based health services (n = 4). Selected studies indicated that community interventions significantly reduced childhood asthma emergency department visits and hospitalizations through increased caregiver self-efficacy, home environmental trigger reduction, and increased access to healthcare. Because of heterogeneity among studies, we were unable to conduct a meta-analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings show significant associations between community interventions and the reduction of emergency healthcare, suggesting a protective effect for severe cases of childhood asthma.

Socioeconomic status associates with worse asthma morbidity among Black and Latinx adults

BACKGROUND

Asthma disproportionately affects African American/Black (AA/B) and Hispanic/Latinx (H/L) patients and individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES), but the relationship between SES and asthma morbidity within these racial/ethnic groups is inadequately understood.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between SES and asthma morbidity among AA/B and H/L adults with moderate to severe asthma using multidomain SES frameworks and mediation analyses.

METHODS

We analyzed enrollment data from the PeRson EmPowered Asthma RElief randomized trial, evaluating inhaled corticosteroid supplementation to rescue therapy. We tested for direct and indirect relationships between SES and asthma morbidity using structural equation models. For SES, we used a latent variable defined by poverty, education, and unemployment. For asthma morbidity, we used self-reported asthma exacerbations in the year before enrollment (corticosteroid bursts, emergency room/urgent care visits, or hospitalizations), and Asthma Control Test scores. We tested for mediation via health literacy, perceived stress, and self-reported discrimination. All models adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, ethnicity, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

Among 990 AA/B and H/L adults, low SES (latent variable) was directly associated with hospitalizations (β = 0.24) and worse Asthma Control Test scores (β = 0.20). Stress partially mediated the relationship between SES and increased emergency room/urgent care visits and worse asthma control (β = 0.03 and = 0.05, respectively). Individual SES domains were directly associated with asthma morbidity. Stress mediated indirect associations between low educational attainment and unemployment with worse asthma control (β = 0.05 and = 0.06, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower SES is directly, and indirectly through stress, associated with asthma morbidity among AA/B and H/L adults. Identification of stressors and relevant management strategies may lessen asthma-related morbidity among these populations.

Residential greenness, asthma, and lung function among children at high risk of allergic sensitization: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

While benefits of greenness to health have been reported, findings specific to child respiratory health are inconsistent.

METHODS

We utilized a prospective birth cohort followed from birth to age 7 years (n = 617). Residential surrounding greenness was quantified via Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within 200, 400, and 800 m distances from geocoded home addresses at birth, age 7 years, and across childhood. Respiratory health outcomes were assessed at age 7 years, including asthma and lung function [percent predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second (%FEV₁), percent predicted forced vital capacity (%FVC), and percent predicted ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity (%FEV₁/FVC)]. We assessed associations using linear and logistic regression models adjusted for community deprivation, household income, and traffic-related air pollution. We tested for effect measure modification by atopic status.

RESULTS

We noted evidence of positive confounding as inverse associations were attenuated upon adjustment in the multivariable models. We found evidence of effect measure modification of NDVI and asthma within 400 m at age 7 years by atopic status (p = 0.04), whereby children sensitized to common allergens were more likely to develop asthma as exposure to greenness increased (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.9, 2.0) versus children not sensitized to common allergens (OR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.5, 1.2). We found consistently positive associations between NDVI and %FEV₁ and %FVC which similarly evidenced positive confounding upon adjustment. In the adjusted regression models, NDVI at 7 years of age was associated with %FEV₁ (200 m: β = 2.1, 95% CI: 0.1, 3.3; 400 m: β = 1.6, 95% CI: 0.3, 2.9) and %FVC (200 m: β = 1.8, 95% CI: 0.7, 3.0; 400 m: β = 1.6, 95% CI: 0.3, 2.8; 800 m: β = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.1, 2.8). Adjusted results for %FEV₁/FVC were non-significant except exposure at birth in the 400 m buffer (β = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.1, 1.5). We found no evidence of effect measure modification of NDVI by atopic status for objective measures of lung function.

CONCLUSION

Sensitivity to allergens may modify the effect of greenness on risk for asthma in children but greenness is likely beneficial for concurrent lung function regardless of allergic status.

Cockroach exposure and perceived stress interact to predict clinical outcomes in childhood asthma

Background

Nonpharmacologic interventions for asthma management rely on identification and mitigation of important asthma triggers. Cockroach exposure is strongly associated with asthma morbidity. It is also associated with stress, another risk factor for asthma. Despite high prevalence of both in vulnerable populations, the impact of joint exposure has not been examined.

Methods

Participants included 173 children with asthma in New Orleans, Louisiana. Cockroach exposure was based on visual inspection using standard protocols. Caregiver stress was measured using Cohen’s 4-item Perceived Stress Scale. Outcomes included unscheduled clinic or emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalization, and pulmonary function. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess independent effects of the exposure on the outcome and effect modification was examined in stratified analysis based on stress. Path analysis to explore the mediation effect by stress was performed using a probit link with parameters based on Bayes’ method with non-informative priors.

Results

Adjusting for stress and other covariates, cockroach exposure was associated with unscheduled clinic/ED visits (aOR = 6.2; 95% CI 1.8, 21.7). Positive associations were also found for hospitalization and FEV₁ < 80%. High stress modified the relationship with unscheduled clinic/ED visits (high aOR = 7.7 95% CI 1.0, 60.2, versus normal aOR = 4.1 95% CI 0.8, 21.9). Path models identified direct and indirect effects (p = 0.05) indicating that a majority of the total effect on unscheduled clinic/ED visits is attributed directly to cockroach exposure.

Conclusion

The strong association between cockroach exposure and asthma morbidity is not due to uncontrolled confounding by stress. The combination of cockroach exposure and high stress, common in urban homes, are modifiable factors associated with poor asthma outcomes.

Enhancing the design and utilization of asthma action plans through community-based participatory research in an urban African American community

BACKGROUND

Across the U.S., large inequities in asthma prevalence and outcomes persist, disproportionately affecting low-income, minoritized children. West Louisville is particularly impacted by these inequities due to a complex interplay of socioeconomic, historical, and industrial processes. Additionally, low health literacy and mistrust in healthcare exacerbate poor asthma self-management.

OBJECTIVE

To engage community members and health professionals to address childhood asthma management in a marginalized community experiencing significant health inequities.

PATIENT INVOLVEMENT

Although prior asthma knowledge was not required, the majority of our community advisory council (CAC) members either had asthma or cared for children/grandchildren with asthma. Through facilitated decision-making using the Boot Camp Translation approach, the CAC chose to focus on improving asthma self-management in their community through enhancing the design and utilization of asthma action plans (AAPs).

METHODS

Upon adding inhaler images to a user-friendly AAP, the CAC developed and implemented a provider incentive program and a health communication campaign to promote the Tool's utilization. Evaluation of the intervention consisted of a short questionnaire measuring relevant patient demographics and campaign knowledge, and phone interviews with providers to gather feedback on the incentive and Tool design.

RESULTS

Over the short two-month intervention, a total of 8 practices with 28 providers used 153 Tools to provide asthma self-management counseling. The majority of providers preferred the enhanced Tool to other AAPs they had used. Inhaler images facilitating improved communication regarding asthma medications.

DISCUSSION

Using a participatory approach, a community preferred intervention targeting barriers to effective asthma control increased provider utilization and community awareness of AAPs and bridged a communication gap between patients and providers.

PRACTICAL VALUE

Leveraging community members' (including patients/caregivers) and health professionals' expertise led to the development of an enhanced patient-education tool and an effective provider incentive program with the potential to improve childhood asthma management in marginalized populations.

Determinants of cough and caregivers' quality of life in pediatric asthma exacerbations

OBJECTIVES

In hospitalized and nonhospitalized children with asthma exacerbations, we evaluated the determinants of (a) prolonged cough on day-14 and (b) asthma quality of life (QoL) questionnaires for parents (PACQLQ) on day-21. We hypothesized that children with more severe acute asthma are more likely to have prolonged cough and/or poorer PACQLQ during the recovery phase.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study performed during 2009-2011.

METHODOLOGY

Two hundred and forty-four children aged 2-16 years presenting with acute asthma to the Emergency Departments of two hospitals were recruited. Clinical history, examination, baseline asthma severity, and acute asthma severity on presentation were documented. Validated daily cough diaries and weekly PACQLQ were recorded for 14 and 21 days, respectively.

RESULTS

34.4% and 32.2% of children who returned the daytime and nighttime cough diaries respectively had a prolonged cough. Those on regular inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) were significantly more likely to have a daytime or nighttime cough score of ≥1 on day-14 (odds ratio [OR_adjusted ] = 4.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.65, 13.35, p = .004 and OR_adjusted  = 2.65, 95% CI 1.05, 6.69, p = .040, respectively). PACQLQ on day-21 was significantly poorer in younger children (mean difference [MD] = -0.04 per year, 95% CI -0.08, -0.01, p = .016), those on ICS (MD = -0.31, 95% CI -0.52, -0.09, p = .005), leukotriene antagonists (MD = -0.42, 95% CI -0.83, -0.02, p = .040) and in those who had an unplanned visit for asthma on day-21 (MD = -1.20, 95% CI -1.61, -0.78, p = .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Post an acute asthma exacerbation, children on regular ICS were more likely to have prolonged cough and poorer QoL. While this may be reflective of asthma severity or control, its association deserves further evaluation.

Complications and Health Care Resource Utilization Associated with Systemic Corticosteroids in Children and Adolescents with Persistent Asthma

BACKGROUND:

Limited comparative data are available on the impact of systemic corticosteroid (SCS) use in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine if asthmatic children and adolescents treated with SCS have a higher likelihood of developing complications versus those not receiving SCS and to examine health care resource utilization (HCRU) in this population.

METHODS:

A retrospective study of data from children and adolescents with persistent asthma retrieved from the MarketScan database, a large US health claims data set, for the period 2000 to 2017 was performed. Propensity score matching was used to pair patients in the SCS and control cohorts. For complications, SCS subgroups (≥4 or 1-3 annual prescriptions) were compared with asthmatic controls without SCS using logistic regression, and for HCRU, cohorts were compared using negative binomial regression.

RESULTS:

A total of 67,081 patients were included (SCS: 23,898; control: 43,183). The odds of having a complication were 2.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-3.2; P < .001) and 1.6 (95% CI, 1.6-1.7; P < .001) times higher in the ≥4 and 1 to 3 SCS groups, respectively, in the first year of follow-up versus controls. For asthma-related hospitalizations, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) was 6.9 (95% CI, 5.6-8.6) and 3.1 (95% CI, 2.8-3.4) times greater in the ≥4 SCS and 1 to 3 SCS groups, respectively, versus controls; for asthma-related emergency department visits, IRR was 5.0 (95% CI, 4.4-5.6) and 2.9 (95% CI, 2.7-3.0) times greater, respectively, versus controls (all P < .01).

CONCLUSION:

Children and adolescents receiving SCS for persistent asthma have an increased risk of developing complications and have greater HCRU in the first year of follow-up versus those without SCS exposure.

A Bayesian spatio-temporal analysis of neighborhood pediatric asthma emergency department visit disparities

Asthma disparities have complex, neighborhood-level drivers that are not well understood. Consequently, identifying particular contextual factors that contribute to disparities is a public health goal. We study pediatric asthma emergency department (ED) visit disparities and neighborhood factors associated with them in South Carolina (SC) census tracts from 1999 to 2015. Leveraging a Bayesian framework, we identify risk clusters, spatially-varying relationships, and risk percentile-specific associations. Clusters of high risk occur in both rural and urban census tracts with high probability, with neighborhood-specific associations suggesting unique risk factors for each locale. Bayesian methods can help clarify the neighborhood drivers of health disparities.

Combined Effect of Race/Ethnicity and Type of Insurance on Reuse of Urgent Hospital-Based Services in Children Discharged with Asthma

Asthma is a leading cause of health disparity in children. This study explores the joint effect of race/ethnicity and insurance type on risk for reuse of urgent services within a year of hospitalization. Data were collected from 604 children hospitalized with asthma between 2012 and 2015 and stratified with respect to combination of patients’ insurance status (public vs. private) and race/ethnicity (white vs. nonwhite). Highest rates for at least one emergency department (ED) revisit (49.5%, 95% CI 42.5, 56.5) and for average revisits (1.03, 95% CI 0.83, 1.22) were recorded in nonwhite children with public insurance. Adjusted models revealed higher chance for ED reuse in white as well as nonwhite children covered by public insurance. Hospitalization rate was not dependent on the combination of social determinants, but on the number of post-discharge ED revisits. The combined effect of race/ethnicity and health insurance are associated with post-discharge utilization of ED services, but not with hospital readmission.

A Roadmap for conducting psychosocial research in epidemiological studies: perspectives of cohort study principal investigators

BACKGROUND

Psychosocial adversity disproportionately affects racial/ethnic and socioeconomic minorities in the USA, and therefore understanding the mechanisms through which psychosocial stress and resilience influence human health can provide meaningful insights into addressing US health disparities. Despite this promise, psychosocial factors are infrequently and unsystematically collected in the US prospective cohort studies.

METHODS

We sought to understand prospective cohort principal investigators' (PIs') attitudes regarding the importance of psychosocial influences on disease aetiology, in order to identify barriers and opportunities for greater inclusion of these domains in high-quality epidemiological research. One-hour, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 PIs representing 24 US prospective cohort studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), collectively capturing health data on 1.25 of every 100 American adults. A hypothesis-free, grounded theory approach was used to analyse and interpret interview data.

RESULTS

Most cohort PIs view psychosocial factors as an important research area to further our understanding of disease aetiology and agree that this research will be crucial for future public health innovations. Virtually all PIs emphasised that future psychosocial research will need to elucidate biological and behavioural mechanisms in order to be taken seriously by the epidemiological community more broadly. A lack of pertinent funding mechanisms and a lack of consensus on optimal scales and measures of psychosocial factors were identified as additional barriers to advancing psychosocial research.

CONCLUSIONS

Our interviews emphasised the need for: (1) high-quality, longitudinal studies that investigate biological mechanisms and pathways through which psychosocial factors influence health, (2) effort among epidemiological cohorts to broaden and harmonise the measures they use across cohorts, to facilitate replication of results and (3) the need for targeted funding opportunities from NIH and other grant-making institutions to study these domains.

Socio-economic Correlates and Spatial Heterogeneity in the Prevalence of Asthma among Young Women in India

Background

Asthma is one of the leading causes of disease burden when measured in terms of disability adjusted life years, despite low prevalence of self-reported cases among young women. This paper deals with the meso-scale correlates and spatial heterogeneity in the prevalence of self-reported Asthma across 640 districts in India, using a nationally representative sample of 699,686 women aged 15–49 years from all 36 States/UTs under NFHS-4 (2015–16).

Methods

Analytical methods used in this paper include multivariate logistic regression to examine the adjusted effects of various independent variables on self-reported Asthma and poor-rich ratios (PRR) and concentration index (CI) to understand the economic inequalities in the prevalence of Asthma. For the spatial analysis in the prevalence of Asthma, univariate and bivariate local Moran’s I statistic have been computed in addition to measure of spatial autocorrelation and auto regression using spatial error and spatial lag models.

Results

Results highlight that women’s education was an important marker to the prevalence of Asthma. Smoking tobacco in any form among women were significantly more likely to suffer from Asthma. The prevalence of Asthma was further aggravated among women from the households without a separate room for kitchen, as well as those using unclean fuel for cooking. The poor-rich ratio in the prevalence of Asthma across various States/UTs in India depict inherent inequality. An analysis of spatial clustering in the prevalence of Asthma based on spatial autocorrelation portrays that Moran’s I values were significant for improved source of drinking water, clean fuel used for cooking, and household environment. When spatial weights are taken into consideration, the autoregression model noticeably becomes stronger in predicting the prevalence of Asthma.

Conclusions

Any programmatic effort to curb the prevalence of Asthma through vertical interventions may hinge around the use of clean fuel, poverty, and lifestyle of subjects, irrespective of urban-rural place of their residence, environmental and ecological factors.

Severe Asthma in Childhood

Severe asthma is broadly defined as asthma requiring a high level of therapy, usually high doses of inhaled corticosteroids, to bring under control. Children who remain symptomatic despite such treatment are a heterogeneous population, and bear a high burden of disease and require high resource utilization. Children with severe asthma require a comprehensive evaluation, careful consideration of alternative diagnoses and comorbid conditions, assessment of medication adherence and environmental conditions, and frequent disease monitoring.

Returning to our roots: The use of geospatial data for nurse-led community research

In the early 20th century, public health nurse, Lillian Wald, addressed the social determinants of health (SDOH) through her work in New York City and her advocacy to improve policy in workplace conditions, education, recreation, and housing. In the early 21st century, addressing the SDOH is a renewed priority and provides nurse researchers with an opportunity to return to our roots. The purpose of this methods paper is to examine how the incorporation of geospatial data and spatial methodologies in community research can enhance the analyses of the complex relationships between social determinants and health. Geospatial technologies, software for mapping and working with geospatial data, statistical methods, and unique considerations are discussed. An exemplar for using geospatial data is presented regarding associations between neighborhood greenspace, neighborhood violence, and children's asthma control. This innovative use of geospatial data illustrates a new frontier in investigating nontraditional connections between the environment and SDOH outcomes.

Socioeconomic and Environmental Risk Factors for Pediatric Asthma in an American Indian Community

BACKGROUND

American Indian (AI)/Alaska Native children have increased asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality compared to non-Hispanic white children. Our study sought to examine environmental and socioeconomic factors of asthma among children in an AI community.

METHODS

This case-control study included children with physician-diagnosed asthma and age-matched controls, ages 6 through 17 years, in an AI community. Diagnosis and clinical characteristics were obtained from medical record review. Home visits included interviews regarding sociodemographic and household environmental exposures, physical exams, spirometry, and asthma control questionnaires (cases only).

RESULTS

Among the 108 asthma cases and 215 controls, 64% had an annual household income of <$25,000. Children with asthma had significantly higher odds of living in a multi-unit dwelling (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-4.4) or in residences with rodent or insect infestation (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-3.8) and were less likely to live in homes with more than 8 occupants (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9). Also, there was a trend for lower caregiver education level, unmarried caregiver marital status, and annual household income level of <$25,000 in univariate analysis. However, after adjustment for socioeconomic status and household environmental factors, these estimates were not significant. Nearly half of cases had poorly controlled asthma and reported persistent cough, wheeze, and dyspnea, yet only 24% reported using a controller medication.

CONCLUSIONS

In this low-income AI community, we identified several social and environmental determinants of asthma, which were mediated by socioeconomic status and other household environmental factors, suggesting a complex interplay between socioeconomic status and environmental exposures. Furthermore, many children with asthma reported poor asthma control.

Individual and Neighborhood Factors Associated with Undiagnosed Asthma in a Large Cohort of Urban Adolescents

Undiagnosed asthma adds to the burden of asthma and is an especially significant public health concern among urban adolescents. While much is known about individual-level demographic and neighborhood-level factors that characterize those with diagnosed asthma, limited data exist regarding these factors and undiagnosed asthma. This observational study evaluated associations between undiagnosed asthma and individual and neighborhood factors among a large cohort of urban adolescents. We analyzed data from 10,295 New York City adolescents who reported on asthma symptoms and diagnosis; a subset (n = 6220) provided addresses that we were able to geocode into US Census tracts. Multivariable regression models estimated associations between undiagnosed asthma status and individual-level variables. Hierarchical linear modeling estimated associations between undiagnosed asthma status and neighborhood-level variables. Undiagnosed asthma prevalence was 20.2%. Females had higher odds of being undiagnosed (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13-1.37). Compared to White, non-Hispanic adolescents, Asian-Americans had higher risk of being undiagnosed (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.01-1.95); Latinos (AOR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.45-0.83); and African-Americans/Blacks (AOR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.52-0.87) had lower risk; Latinos and African-Americans/Blacks did not differ significantly. Living in a neighborhood with a lower concentration of Latinos relative to White non-Latinos was associated with lower risk of being undiagnosed (AOR = 0.66; CI = 0.43-0.95). Living in a neighborhood with health care provider shortages was associated with lower risk of being undiagnosed (AOR = 0.80; 95% CI =0.69-0.93). Public health campaigns to educate adolescents and their caregivers about undiagnosed asthma, as well as education for health care providers to screen adolescent patients for asthma, are warranted.

Pervasive Income-Based Disparities In Inpatient Bed-Day Rates Across Conditions And Subspecialties

Building a culture of health in hospitals means more than participating in community partnerships. It also requires an enhanced capacity to recognize and respond to disparities in utilization patterns across populations. We identified all pediatric hospitalizations at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, in the period 2011-16. Each hospitalized child's address was geocoded, allowing us to calculate inpatient bed-day rates for each census tract in Hamilton County, Ohio, across all causes and for specific conditions and pediatric subspecialties. We then divided the census tracts into quintiles based on their underlying rates of child poverty and calculated bed-day rates per quintile. Poorer communities disproportionately bore the burden of pediatric hospital days. If children from all of the county's census tracts spent the same amount of time in the hospital each year as those from the most affluent tracts, approximately twenty-two child-years of hospitalization time would be prevented. Of particular note were "hot spots" in high-poverty census tracts neighboring the hospital, where bed-day rates were more than double the county average. Hospitals that address disparities would benefit from a more comprehensive understanding of the culture of health-a culture that is more cohesive inside the hospital and builds bridges into the community.

Enhancing Disaster Resilience by Reducing Stress-Associated Health Impacts

Disasters are a recurring fact of life, and major incidents can have both immediate and long-lasting negative effects on the health and well-being of people, communities, and economies. A primary goal of many disaster preparedness, response, and recovery plans is to reduce the likelihood and severity of disaster impacts through increased resilience of individuals and communities. Unfortunately, most plans do not address directly major drivers of long-term disaster impacts on humans-that is, acute, chronic, and cumulative stress-and therefore do less to enhance resilience than they could. Stress has been shown to lead to or exacerbate ailments ranging from mental illness, domestic violence, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorders, and suicide to cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, and other infirmities. Individuals, groups, communities, organizations, and social ties are all vulnerable to stress. Based on a targeted review of what we considered to be key literature about disasters, resilience, and disaster-associated stress effects, we recommend eight actions to improve resiliency through inclusion of stress alleviation in disaster planning: (1) Improve existing disaster behavioral and physical health programs to better address, leverage, and coordinate resources for stress reduction, relief, and treatment in disaster planning and response. (2) Emphasize pre- and post-disaster collection of relevant biomarker and other health-related data to provide a baseline of health status against which disaster impacts could be assessed, and continued monitoring of these indicators to evaluate recovery. (3) Enhance capacity of science and public health early-responders. (4) Use natural infrastructure to minimize disaster damage. (5) Expand the geography of disaster response and relief to better incorporate the displacement of affected people. (6) Utilize nature-based treatment to alleviate pre- and post-disaster stress effects on health. (7) Review disaster laws, policies, and regulations to identify opportunities to strengthen public health preparedness and responses including for stress-related impacts, better engage affected communities, and enhance provision of health services. (8) With community participation, develop and institute equitable processes pre-disaster for dealing with damage assessments, litigation, payments, and housing.

The Use of Geographic Data to Improve Asthma Care Delivery and Population Health

The authors examine uses of geographic data to improve asthma care delivery and population health and describe potential practice changes and areas for future research.

Life Cycle of Childhood Asthma: Prenatal, Infancy and Preschool, Childhood, and Adolescence

Asthma is a heterogeneous developmental disorder influenced by complex interactions between genetic susceptibility and exposures. Wheezing in infancy and early childhood is highly prevalent, with a substantial minority of children progressing to established asthma by school age, most of whom are atopic. Adolescence is a time of remission of symptoms with persistent lung function deficits. The transition to asthma in adulthood is not well understood.

Impact of community respiratory viral infections in urban children with asthma

Background

Upper respiratory tract viral infections cause asthma exacerbations in children. However, the impact of natural colds on children with asthma in the community, particularly in the high-risk urban environment, is less well defined.

Objective

We hypothesized that children with high-symptom upper respiratory viral infections have reduced airway function and greater respiratory tract inflammation than children with virus-positive low-symptom illnesses or virus-negative upper respiratory tract symptoms.

Methods

We studied 53 children with asthma from Detroit, Michigan, during scheduled surveillance periods and self-reported respiratory illnesses for 1 year. Symptom score, spirometry, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and nasal aspirate biomarkers, and viral nucleic acid and rhinovirus (RV) copy number were assessed.

Results

Of 658 aspirates collected, 22.9% of surveillance samples and 33.7% of respiratory illnesses were virus-positive. Compared with the virus-negative asymptomatic condition, children with severe colds (symptom score ≥5) showed reduced forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF_25%-75%), higher nasal messenger RNA expression of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)-10 and melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5, and higher protein abundance of CXCL8, CXCL10 and C-C motif chemokine ligands (CCL)-2, CCL4, CCL20, and CCL24. Children with mild (symptom score, 1-4) and asymptomatic infections showed normal airway function and fewer biomarker elevations. Virus-negative cold-like illnesses demonstrated increased FeNO, minimal biomarker elevation, and normal airflow. The RV copy number was associated with nasal chemokine levels but not symptom score.

Conclusion

Urban children with asthma with high-symptom respiratory viral infections have reduced FEF_25%-75% and more elevations of nasal biomarkers than children with mild or symptomatic infections, or virus-negative illnesses.

Investigating the relationships among neighborhood factors and asthma control in African American children: A study protocol

Over 2 million children in the US have uncontrolled asthma. African American children are disproportionately affected with a risk of dying from asthma that is 7.6 times higher than non-Hispanic White children. Racial disparities in childhood asthma are partially attributed to differential exposures to poverty; unsafe and stressful neighborhoods; and unhealthy physical environments. This paper describes the protocol for an ongoing National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research-funded descriptive, cross-sectional study to investigate two neighborhood factors that may influence children's asthma. Building on an existing dataset, this study examines associations among neighborhood greenspace, neighborhood safety, and level of asthma control while controlling for indoor asthma triggers in an urban sample of predominantly low-income, African American children with persistent asthma. Two new variables are added to the dataset: availability of neighborhood greenspace and neighborhood violent crime rate. Greenspace is being accessed using geographic information systems and measured using the normalized difference vegetation index. Neighborhood violent crime rate is calculated using geocoded, point locations for crimes downloaded from the city police department. It is hypothesized that parents living in unsafe neighborhoods are likely to keep their children indoors, thereby increasing their children's exposure to indoor asthma triggers and limiting the potential benefits of neighborhood greenspace. The biggest challenges thus far are related to limited variability in greenspace and violent crime rates. Progress to date and strategies to address these challenges are discussed. Results have the potential to inform interventions to improve asthmatic children's health and influence public health policy.

Health Disparities Among Children with Asthma in the United States by Place of Residence

BACKGROUND

Children residing in poor-urban areas may have greater asthma morbidity. It is unclear whether this is due to individual characteristics such as race and ethnicity or place of residence.

OBJECTIVE

Assess indicators of control and treatment by residence.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional analysis of children (aged 1-17 years) in the 2000-2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Indicators of poor control included use of more than 3 canisters of short-acting beta agonist (SABA) in 3 months, asthma attack, and emergency department (ED) or inpatient (IP) visit during the year. Treatment measures included use of controller medications and a ratio of controller-to-total prescriptions of 0.7 or more.

RESULTS

There were 15,052 children with asthma in the MEPS 2000-2014 data, reflecting 8.4 million children in 2014. After controlling for covariates, children with asthma residing in poor-urban areas had lower odds of using controller medications (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77), having a controller-to-total ratio of 0.7 or more (OR = 0.75), and reporting an asthma attack (OR = 0.75) and higher odds of having an ED/IP visit (OR = 1.3) compared with those living elsewhere. Black race and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with greater odds of excessive SABA use (OR = 2.11) and ED/IP visits (OR = 2.03) and lower odds of controller-to-total ratio of 0.07 or more (OR = 0.50).

CONCLUSIONS

Poor-urban residence may be independently associated with asthma control and treatment even after controlling for individual characteristics such as race and ethnicity. Future research is needed to understand the sources of these geographic health disparities to more successfully target public health interventions.

Presence of atopy increases the risk of asthma relapse

OBJECTIVES

To describe the point prevalence of respiratory viruses/atypical bacteria using PCR and evaluate the impact of respiratory viruses/atypical bacteria and atopy on acute severity and clinical recovery in children with hospitalised and non-hospitalised asthma exacerbations.

DESIGN

This was a prospective study performed during 2009-2011.

SETTING

The study was performed in the emergency departments of two hospitals.

PATIENTS

244 children aged 2-16 years presenting with acute asthma to the emergency departments were recruited. A nasopharyngeal aspirate and allergen skin prick test were performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The outcomes were divided into (1) acute severity outcomes (Australian National Asthma Council assessment, hospitalisation, Functional Severity Scale, Acute Asthma Score, asthma quality of life questionnaires for parents (PACQLQ) on presentation, asthma diary scores (ADS) on presentation and length of hospitalisation) and (2) recovery outcomes (PACQLQ for 21 days, ADS for 14 days and representation for asthma for 21 days).

RESULTS

PCR for viruses/atypical bacteria was positive in 81.7% of children (75.1% human rhinovirus, codetection in 14.2%). Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae were rarely detected. The presence of micro-organisms had little impact on acute asthma or recovery outcomes. Children with atopy were significantly more likely to relapse and represent for medical care by day 14 (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.23).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of any viruses is associated with asthma exacerbations but does not appear to influence asthma recovery. In contrast, atopy is associated with asthma relapse. M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae are rare triggers of acute asthma in young children.

Comprehensive Neighborhood Portraits and Child Asthma Disparities

Objectives Previous research has established links between child, family, and neighborhood disadvantages and child asthma. We add to this literature by first characterizing neighborhoods in Houston, TX by demographic, economic, and air quality characteristics to establish differences in pediatric asthma diagnoses across neighborhoods. Second, we identify the relative risk of social, economic, and environmental risk factors for child asthma diagnoses. Methods We geocoded and linked electronic pediatric medical records to neighborhood-level social and economic indicators. Using latent profile modeling techniques, we identified Advantaged, Middle-class, and Disadvantaged neighborhoods. We then used a modified version of the Blinder-Oaxaca regression decomposition method to examine differences in asthma diagnoses across children in these different neighborhoods. Results Both compositional (the characteristics of the children and the ambient air quality in the neighborhood) and associational (the relationship between child and air quality characteristics and asthma) differences within the distinctive neighborhood contexts influence asthma outcomes. For example, unequal exposure to PM_2.5 and O₃ among children in Disadvantaged and Middle-class neighborhoods contribute to asthma diagnosis disparities within these contexts. For children in Disadvantaged and Advantaged neighborhoods, associational differences between racial/ethnic and socioeconomic characteristics and asthma diagnoses explain a significant proportion of the gap. Conclusions for Practice Our results provide evidence that differential exposure to pollution and protective factors associated with non-Hispanic White children and children from affluent families contribute to asthma disparities between neighborhoods. Future researchers should consider social and racial inequalities as more proximate drivers, not merely as associated, with asthma disparities in children.

Neighborhood Perceptions and Cumulative Impacts of Low Level Chronic Exposure to Fine Particular Matter (PM2.5) on Cardiopulmonary Health

Adverse perceptions of neighborhood safety, aesthetics and quality including access to resources can induce stress and may make individuals more sensitive to cardiopulmonary effects of air pollution exposure. Few studies have examined neighborhood perceptions as important and modifiable non-chemical stressors of the built environment that may exacerbate effects of air pollution on cardiopulmonary health outcomes, particularly among general population based cohorts. This study examined associations between low-level chronic exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and cardiopulmonary health, and the potential mediating or modifying effects of adverse neighborhood perceptions. Using data from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW), 2230 non-asthmatic adults age 21-74 were included in the analyses. The overall goals of this study were to assess if individuals who experience stress from neighborhood environments in which they live were more sensitive to low levels of fine particular matter (PM2.5 μg/m³). Demographic predictors of air pollution exposure included younger age, non-White race, lower education and middle class income. After adjustments, objective lung function measures (FEV1 and FEV1 to FVC ratio) were the only cardiopulmonary health indicators significantly associated with chronic three-year annual averages of PM2.5. Among all non-asthmatics, a ten unit increase in estimated three year annual average PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with lower forced expiratory volume (L) in one second FEV1 (β = -0.40 μg/L; 95% CI -0.45, -0.06). Among all individuals, adverse perceptions of the neighborhood built environment did not appear to statistically moderate or mediate associations. However, stratified analysis did reveal significant associations between PM2.5 and lung function (FEV1) only among individuals with negative perceptions and increased reports of neighborhood stressors. These findings included individuals who felt their neighborhoods were poorly maintained (β = -0.82; 95% CI -1.35, -0.28), experienced stress from crime (β = -0.45; 95% CI -0.94, 0.04) or reported neighborhood is not well maintained (β = -1.13, CI -2.04, -0.24). These significant associations were similar for FEV1 to FVC ratio. Multi-pronged approaches addressing both neighborhood built environment aesthetics and air pollution regulation may be necessary to protect vulnerable and susceptible individuals and reduce persistent inequalities.

The Child Opportunity Index and Disparities in Pediatric Asthma Hospitalizations Across One Ohio Metropolitan Area, 2011-2013

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the Child Opportunity Index (COI), a nationally available measure of relative educational, health/environmental, and social/economic opportunity across census tracts within metropolitan areas, is associated with population- and patient-level asthma morbidity.

STUDY DESIGN

This population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2011 and 2013 in a southwest Ohio county. Participants included all children aged 1-16 years with hospitalizations or emergency department visits for asthma or wheezing at a major pediatric hospital. Patients were identified using discharge diagnosis codes and geocoded to their home census tract. The primary population-level outcome was census tract asthma hospitalization rate. The primary patient-level outcome was rehospitalization within 12 months of the index hospitalization. Census tract opportunity was characterized using the COI and its educational, health/environmental, and social/economic domains.

RESULTS

Across 222 in-county census tracts, there were 2539 geocoded hospitalizations. The median asthma-related hospitalization rate was 5.0 per 1000 children per year (IQR, 1.9-8.9). Median hospitalization rates in very low, low, moderate, high, and very high opportunity tracts were 9.1, 7.6, 4.6, 2.1, and 1.8 per 1000, respectively (P < .0001). The social/economic domain had the most variables significantly associated with the outcome at the population level. The adjusted patient-level analyses showed that the COI was not significantly associated with a patient's risk of rehospitalization within 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The COI was associated with population-level asthma morbidity. The details provided by the COI may inform interventions aimed at increasing opportunity and reducing morbidity across regions.

Managing Asthma in Low-Income, Underrepresented Minority, and Other Disadvantaged Pediatric Populations: Closing the Gap

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this article, we review current understanding of the epidemiology and etiology of disparities in asthma. We also highlight current and emerging literature on solutions to tackle disparities while underscoring gaps and pressing future directions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Tailored, multicomponent approaches including the home, school, and clinician-based interventions show great promise. Managing asthma in disadvantaged populations can be challenging as they tend to have disproportionately worse outcomes due to a multitude of factors. However, multifaceted, innovative interventions that are sustainable and scalable are key to improving outcomes.

Maternal socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with transcriptional indications of greater immune activation and slower tissue maturation in placental biopsies and newborn cord blood

Children from economically disadvantaged families experience worse cognitive, psychiatric, and medical outcomes compared to more affluent youth. Preclinical models suggest some of the adverse influence of disadvantage could be transmitted during gestation via maternal immune activation, but this hypothesis has not been tested in humans. It also remains unclear whether prenatal interventions can mitigate such effects. To fill these gaps, we conducted two studies. Study 1 characterized the socioeconomic conditions of 79 women during pregnancy. At delivery, placenta biopsies and umbilical blood were collected for transcriptional profiling. Maternal disadvantage was associated with a transcriptional profile indicative of higher immune activation and slower fetal maturation, particularly in pathways related to brain, heart, and immune development. Cord blood cells of disadvantaged newborns also showed indications of immaturity, as reflected in down-regulation of pathways that coordinate myeloid cell development. These associations were independent of fetal sex, and characteristics of mothers (age, race, adiposity, diabetes, pre-eclampsia) and babies (delivery method, gestational age). Study 2 performed the same transcriptional analyses in specimens from 20 women participating in CenteringPregnancy, a group-based psychosocial intervention, and 20 women in traditional prenatal care. In both placenta biopsies and cord blood, women in CenteringPregnancy showed up-regulation of transcripts found in Study 1 to be most down-regulated in conjunction with disadvantage. Collectively, these results suggest socioeconomic disparities in placental biology are evident at birth, and provide clues about the mechanistic origins of health disparities. They also suggest the possibility that psychosocial interventions could have mitigating influences.

Income is an independent risk factor for worse asthma outcomes

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with asthma morbidity in observational studies, but the factors underlying this association are uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether 3 SES correlates-low income, low education, and high perceived stress-were independent risk factors for treatment failure and asthma exacerbations in the context of a randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

The effect of low SES (household income of <$50,000/y and household educational level of less than a Bachelor's degree) and high perceived stress (defined as a score of >20 on a perceived stress scale) on asthma morbidity was analyzed in 381 participants by using Poisson regression models. The primary outcome was treatment failure (defined in the trial protocol as a significant clinical or airflow deterioration), and the secondary outcome was asthma exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids.

RESULTS

Fifty-four percent of participants had a low income, 40% had a low educational level, and 17% had high perceived stress levels. Even after adjusting for race and other important confounders, participants with lower income had higher rates of both treatment failures (rate ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3; P = .03) and exacerbations (rate ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3; P = .02). Adherence with inhaled corticosteroids was similarly high for both income categories. Education and perceived stress were not significantly associated with either outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

In the context of a randomized controlled trial, participants with lower income were more likely to experience adverse asthma outcomes independent of education, perceived stress, race, and medication adherence.

Difficult Family Relationships, Residential Greenspace, and Childhood Asthma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Both the social environment and the physical environment are increasingly recognized as important to childhood diseases such as asthma. This study tested a novel hypothesis: that living in areas high in greenspace may help buffer the effects of difficult family relationships for children with asthma.

METHODS

A total of 150 children (ages 9-17), physician-diagnosed with asthma, participated in this study. To assess difficulties in parent-child relationships, parents and children completed measures of harsh/inconsistent parenting and parental hostility. Residential greenspace was calculated by using satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index with a buffer of 250 m around the residential address. Outcomes included both clinical and biological measures: asthma control and functional limitations, as well as airway inflammation (fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide) and glucocorticoid receptor expression in T-helper cells.

RESULTS

After controlling for potential confounding variables, including family income, child demographics, and child medical variables, few main effects were found. However, interactions between residential greenspace and difficult family relationships were found for asthma control (P = .02), asthma functional limitations (P = .04), airway inflammation (P = .007), and the abundance of glucocorticoid receptor in T-helper cells (P = .05). These interactions were all in a direction such that as the quality of parent-child relationships improved, greenspace became more strongly associated with better asthma outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest synergistic effects of positive environments across the physical and social domains. Children with asthma appear to benefit the most when they both live in high greenspace areas and have positive family relationships.

Panic Disorder Comorbidity with Medical Conditions and Treatment Implications

Panic disorder (PD) is unique among the anxiety disorders in that panic symptoms are primarily of a physical nature. Consequently, comorbidity with medical illness is significant. This review examines the association between PD and medical illness. We identify shared pathophysiological and psychological correlates and illustrate how physiological activation in panic sufferers underlies their symptom experience in the context of the fight-or-flight response and beyond a situation-specific response pattern. We then review evidence for bodily symptom perception accuracy in PD. Prevalence of comorbidity for PD and medical illness is presented, with a focus on respiratory and cardiovascular illness, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes, followed by an outline for potential pathways of a bidirectional association. We conclude by illustrating commonalities in mediating mechanistic pathways and moderating risk factors across medical illnesses, and we discuss implications for diagnosis and treatment of both types of conditions.

Does receiving care in a medical home reduce racial/ethnic disparities in ED visits among children with asthma in the United States?

Evidence has shown the implementation of medical home model improves care quality and outcomes. However, it is not clear whether receiving care from a medical home has any impact on racial/ethnic disparities in emergency department (ED) use by children with asthma. This study using the US National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, 2009-2010, estimated racial/ethnic disparities in ED use. Generalized liner models were used to examine factors associated with ED use. Racial/ethnic differences in ED use were attenuated after adjusting for socio-economic variables. Ratios of prevalence ratios were calculated to examine the effect modification of medical home on ED use associated with race/ethnicity. The adjusted prevalence ratio of ED use of the Black to non-Hispanic White was 1.51 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36-1.67) with medical home and 1.35 (95% CI: 1.24-1.47) without medical home. Among those with care from a medical home Latino children had higher ED use compared with White children. There is no evidence that the self-reported care from a medical home narrows the gaps in ED use between non-Hispanic White and Black or Latino children with asthma.

Pediatric Asthma Health Disparities: Race, Hardship, Housing, and Asthma in a National Survey

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine if racial disparities in pediatric asthma are explained by material hardship and home ownership.

METHODS

We performed a secondary analysis of the 2011 American Housing Survey. A total of 33,201 households with children age 6 to 17 years were surveyed regarding childhood asthma diagnosis and emergency department (ED) visits for asthma (for the youngest child with asthma in the household). Material hardship included poor housing quality, housing crowding, lack of amenities, and no vehicle access. We used logistic regression to determine the association between race, material hardship, and asthma diagnosis or ED visits, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Non-Hispanic black heads of household had a higher odds of having a child diagnosed with asthma in the home compared with non-Hispanic white heads of household (odds ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50-1.96), and a higher odds of ED visits for asthma (odds ratio, 3.02; 95% CI, 2.29-3.99). The race-asthma association was decreased but not eliminated after adjusting for material hardship and home ownership (ED visit adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.07; 95% CI, 1.50-2.86). Poor housing quality was independently associated with asthma diagnosis (AOR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.28-1.66) and ED visits (AOR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.21-2.10). Home ownership was associated with a lower odds of asthma-related ED visits (AOR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.46-0.84).

CONCLUSIONS

Observed racial disparities in pediatric asthma are lessened after controlling for material hardship. Poor housing quality in particular is strongly associated with asthma morbidity. Policy makers could target improving housing quality as a means of potentially reducing asthma disparities.

Asthma Disparity Photovoice: The Discourses of Black Adolescent and Public Health Policymakers

BACKGROUND

Policies in U.S. public schools that address asthma management for Black adolescents may not sufficiently transform sociocultural determinants of disparities. A critical analysis of public health policy maker and adolescent discourses on asthma management using an ecological framework could inform policy development. This study describes the discourses of asthma management disparities of school and other public health policymakers and Black adolescents with asthma during a statewide asthma planning activity.

METHOD

I conducted a qualitative critical discourse analysis on transcripts and phototexts from a photovoice project with Black adolescents with asthma (n = 19), an asthma-planning meeting with school and public health policymakers (n = 12), and an observation of a photovoice dissemination event that included the same adolescents and policymakers.

RESULTS

Policymakers did not discuss sociocultural discourses concerning asthma management disparities such as racism and discrimination, but the adolescents did. The only shared discourses between adolescents and policymakers were on the management of indoor environments, health care quality, inadequate housing, and outdoor air pollution.

CONCLUSIONS

Including Black adolescents in policymaking activities concerning asthma management disparities furthers the identification of differing and shared discourses. School policies should include multilevel strategies that address structural inequities. Photovoice presents an opportunity for including the voice of marginalized youth in policy-planning processes.

Neighborhood-Level Factors Related to Asthma in Children Living in Urban Areas

Asthma disproportionately affects children who are non-White and of low socioeconomic status. One innovative approach to address these health disparities is to investigate the child's neighborhood environment and factors influencing asthma symptoms. The purpose of this integrative review is to critique research investigating the relationships between neighborhood-level factors and asthma morbidity in urban children. Three literature databases were searched using the terms "asthma," "child," "neighborhood," and "urban." The articles included were organized into six themes within the larger domains of prevalence, physical, and social factors. Literature tables provide in-depth analysis of each article and demonstrate a need for strengthening analysis methods. The current research points to the necessity for a multilevel study to analyze neighborhood-level factors that are associated with increased asthma morbidity in urban children. School nurse clinicians, working within children's neighborhoods, are uniquely positioned to assess modifiable neighborhood-level determinants of health in caring for children with asthma.

Residential Segregation and Racial Cancer Disparities: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

This paper provides the first review of empirical studies of segregation and black-white cancer disparities.

METHODS

We searched all years of PubMed (through May 2016) using these terms: racial segregation, residential segregation, neighborhood racial composition (first terms) and (second terms) cancer incidence, mortality, survival, stage at diagnosis, screening. The 17 (of 668) articles that measured both segregation and a cancer outcome were retained.

RESULTS

Segregation contributed significantly to cancer and to racial cancer disparities in 70% of analyses, even after controlling for socioeconomic status and health insurance. Residing in segregated African-American areas was associated with higher odds of later-stage diagnosis of breast and lung cancers, higher mortality rates and lower survival rates from breast and lung cancers, and higher cumulative cancer risks associated with exposure to ambient air toxics. There were no studies of many types of cancer (e.g., cervical). Studies differed in their measure of segregation, and 40% used an invalid measure. Possible mediators of the segregation effect usually were not tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Empirical analysis of segregation and racial cancer disparities is a recent area of research. The literature is limited to 17 studies that focused primarily on breast cancer. Studies differed in their measure of segregation, yet segregation nonetheless contributed to cancer and to racial cancer disparities in 70% of analyses. This suggests the need for further research that uses valid measures of segregation, examines a variety of types of cancers, and explores the variables that may mediate the segregation effect.

Revisiting the Hispanic health paradox: the relative contributions of nativity, country of origin, and race/ethnicity to childhood asthma

This study examined the relationship between race and Hispanic ethnicity, maternal and child nativity, country of origin and asthma among 2,558 non-Hispanic white and Hispanic children across 65 Los Angeles neighborhoods. A series of two-level multilevel models were estimated to examine the independent effects of race, ethnicity, and country of origin on childhood asthma. Lifetime asthma prevalence was reported among 9% of children, with no significant differences between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites overall. However, in fully adjusted models, Hispanic children of non-Mexican origin reported higher odds of asthma compared to non-Hispanic white children. A protective nativity effect was also observed among children of foreign born mothers compared to US born mothers. Our study provides evidence in support of the heterogeneity of childhood asthma by Hispanic ethnicity and maternal nativity. These findings suggest moving beyond solely considering racial/ethnic classifications which could mask subgroups at increased risk of childhood asthma.

Resilience to adversity and the early origins of disease

For the past quarter century, scientists at the Center for Family Research at the University of Georgia have conducted research designed to promote understanding of normative developmental trajectories among low socioeconomic status African American children, youths, and young adults. In this paper, we describe a recent expansion of this research program using longitudinal, epidemiological studies and randomized prevention trials to test hypotheses about the origins of disease among rural African American youths. The contributions of economic hardship, downward mobility, neighborhood poverty, and racial discrimination to allostatic load and epigenetic aging are illustrated. The health benefits of supportive family relationships in protecting youths from these challenges are also illustrated. A cautionary set of studies is presented showing that some psychosocially resilient youths demonstrate high allostatic loads and accelerated epigenetic aging, suggesting that, for some, "resilience is just skin deep." Finally, we end on an optimistic note by demonstrating that family-centered prevention programs can have health benefits by reducing inflammation, helping to preserve telomere length, and inhibiting epigenetic aging.

Housing code violation density associated with emergency department and hospital use by children with asthma

Local agencies that enforce housing policies can partner with the health care system to target pediatric asthma care. These agencies retain data that can be used to pinpoint potential clusters of high asthma morbidity. We sought to assess whether the density of housing code violations in census tracts-the in-tract asthma-relevant violations (such as the presence of mold or cockroaches) divided by the number of housing units-was associated with population-level asthma morbidity and could be used to predict a hospitalized patient's risk of subsequent morbidity. We found that increased density in housing code violations was associated with population-level morbidity independent of poverty, and that the density explained 22 percent of the variation in rates of asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Children who had been hospitalized for asthma had 1.84 greater odds of a revisit to the emergency department or a rehospitalization within twelve months if they lived in the highest quartile of housing code violation tracts, compared to those living in the lowest quartile. Integrating housing and health data could highlight at-risk areas and patients for targeted interventions.

Individual factors, neighborhood social context and asthma at age 5 years

OBJECTIVE

Childhood asthma is a major public health problem and its development is multifactorial. We examined whether neighborhood cohesion and disorder were associated with caregiver-report of asthma at age 5 years.

METHODS

This study is a secondary data analysis of the 2011-2012 United States National Survey of Children's Health. Data were available for 4680 children, age 5 years old born at term or preterm with birthweight >2500 g. Neighborhood disorder and cohesion were assessed based on caregivers' responses to validated questionnaires. Child asthma diagnosis was reported by the caregiver. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between these neighborhood factors and caregiver-report of child asthma, while accounting for individual level covariates.

RESULTS

Approximately two-thirds of the 4680 children were White and lived in households with income >400% of federal poverty line. Asthma was present in 399 (9%) children. Child female sex was associated with reduced risk of caregiver-reported asthma while non-Hispanic Black race and having smokers in the household were independently associated with increased risk in multivariable models. In these models, neighborhood disorder was significantly associated with asthma (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 1.70, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.04-2.78), while neighborhood cohesion was not (aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.51-1.68).

CONCLUSION

Even after adjustment for several individual level factors, neighborhood disorder was associated with caregiver-report of asthma in this nationally representative sample of 5-year-old children. Further research is needed to better understand how risk factors at different levels of the socio-ecological framework may interact to affect childhood asthma development.

Assessment of neighbourhood-level socioeconomic status as a modifier of air pollution-asthma associations among children in Atlanta

BACKGROUND

A broad literature base provides evidence of association between air pollution and paediatric asthma. Socioeconomic status (SES) may modify these associations; however, previous studies have found inconsistent evidence regarding the role of SES.

METHODS

Effect modification of air pollution-paediatric asthma morbidity by multiple indicators of neighbourhood SES was examined in Atlanta, Georgia. Emergency department (ED) visit data were obtained for 5-18 years old with a diagnosis of asthma in 20-county Atlanta during 2002-2008. Daily ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA)-level concentrations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter and elemental carbon were estimated using ambient monitoring data and emissions-based chemical transport model simulations. Pollutant-asthma associations were estimated using a case-crossover approach, controlling for temporal trends and meteorology. Effect modification by ZCTA-level (neighbourhood) SES was examined via stratification.

RESULTS

We observed stronger air pollution-paediatric asthma associations in 'deprivation areas' (eg, ≥20% of the ZCTA population living in poverty) compared with 'non-deprivation areas'. When stratifying analyses by quartiles of neighbourhood SES, ORs indicated stronger associations in the highest and lowest SES quartiles and weaker associations among the middle quartiles.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that neighbourhood-level SES is a factor contributing vulnerability to air pollution-related paediatric asthma morbidity in Atlanta. Children living in low SES environments appear to be especially vulnerable given positive ORs and high underlying asthma ED rates. Inconsistent findings of effect modification among previous studies may be partially explained by choice of SES stratification criteria, and the use of multiplicative models combined with differing baseline risk across SES populations.