Chronic Disease Care
Low-income California residents and minorities have a higher risk of asthma than other populations, according to two studies by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Researchers found that low-income and minority California residents were more likely to miss work or school and visit the emergency department because of asthma. The authors also found that certain indoor triggers of asthma, such as cockroaches and second-hand smoke, were more prevalent among both groups.
The studies concluded that health care reform in California must provide people with asthma, particularly low-income and minority populations, better access to preventive treatment that will reduce ED costs (UCLA Center for Health Policy Research release, 2/28).
The studies appear below.
- "Low-Income Californians Bear Unequal Burden of Asthma" (Babey et al., "Low-Income Californians Bear Unequal Burden of Asthma" February 2007).
- "California's Racial and Ethnic Minorities More Adversely Affected by Asthma" (Meng et al., "California's Racial and Ethnic Minorities More Adversely Affected by Asthma," February 2007).
- "Asthma Among Homeless Children in New York City: An Update" (Grant et al., American Journal of Public Health, March 2007).
- "Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Symptom Severity Among Children Hospitalized with Asthma" (Bai et al., Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, February 2007).