Newswise — Asthma affects 20 million Americans, with minorities having the greatest risk of dying from, or being diagnosed with the disease. African Americans are particularly at risk and research shows they're four times more likely to be hospitalized and five times more likely to die of asthma than non-African Americans.
Studies published in the February 2006 Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), the peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) show:
* Asthma prevalence is highest for Puerto Rican Americans (13.1%), followed by Native Americans (9.9%) and non-Hispanic blacks (9.5%). * Asthma mortality for whites increased from the 1980-1984 time period to 2000-2001 time period from 2.1 to 2.6 deaths per 1,000,000 population; during the same time, the mortality rate for African Americans increased from 9.9 to 13.2 deaths per 1,000,000 population. * In a survey of Medicaid-insured children with asthma, by Ruchi S. Gupta, MD, MPH, of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, black children had worse asthma status and less use of preventive medication than white children; fewer black adults also reported receiving asthma self-management education.
Genetics might contribute to disease prevalence, according to a February 2006 JACI study by Kathleen C. Barnes, PhD, Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore. Barnes noted several studies have demonstrated that although Puerto Rico has a high prevalence of asthma, the prevalence is similarly high among Puerto Ricans in the mainland United States compared with other groups, including other Hispanic Americans.
In addition to genetics, diet may be a factor in children developing asthma. Cities in the Northeastern United States which are often densely populated have some of the highest asthma rates in the country. People who live in those cities are often deficient in the "sunshine vitamin," " vitamin D.
An abstract presented by Dr. Carlos Camargo, MD, DrPH, of Harvard Medical School, Boston, at the recent 2006 AAAAI Annual Meeting, shows the correlation between pregnant women with higher levels of vitamin D in their diet having children who have developed childhood asthma at lower rates than average through age 3. Camargo's ongoing study, which is based on patients from the Boston area, is the first of its kind to examine how vitamin D can lessen the chance of children developing asthma early in their life.
When to see an allergy/asthma specialistThe AAAAI's How the Allergist/Immunologist Can Help: Consultation and Referral Guidelines Citing the Evidence provides information to assist patients and health care professionals in determining when an asthmatic patient may need consultation or ongoing specialty care by the allergist/immunologist. Children and adults who suffer from asthma should see an allergist/immunologist if they:
* Have asthma and see their symptoms get worse after a new pet has been introduced into the home. * A child has allergic rhinitis. Immunotherapy may potentially prevent the development of asthma. * Have potentially fatal asthma, meaning a prior life threatening episode that included intubation. * Need daily asthma reliever medications. * Would like to try to minimize their need for medications and need education on asthma and guidance in techniques for self-management.
The AAAAI is the largest professional medical specialty organization in the United States representing allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Allergy/immunology specialists are pediatric or internal medicine physicians who have elected an additional two years of training to become specialized in the treatment of asthma, allergy and immunologic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,000 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate to the public by providing educational information through its Web site at http://www.aaaai.org.
RSS