Dataset Information

The protective effect of community factors on childhood asthma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Asthma burden in the US is not evenly distributed. Although asthma prevalence varies widely across urban neighborhoods, little attention has been paid to the community as a key contributor.

Objective

To determine the effect of positive socio-environmental community factors on childhood asthma prevalence in Chicago.

Methods

From 2003 to 2005, an asthma screening survey was conducted among children attending Chicago Public/Catholic schools from kindergarten through eighth grade. One hundred five schools participated, yielding a stratified representation of 4 race-income groups. Positive community factors, such as social capital, economic potential, and community amenities, were assessed by using the Metro Chicago Information Center's Community Vitality Index.

Results

Of the surveys returned, 45,177 (92%) were geocoded into 287 neighborhoods. Neighborhoods were divided into quartile groups by asthma prevalence (mean, 8%, 12%, 17%, 25%). Community vitality (54% vs 44%; P < .0001) and economic potential (64% vs 38%; P < .0001) were significantly higher in neighborhoods with low asthma prevalence. Neighborhood interaction (36% vs 73%; P < .0001) and stability (40% vs 53%; P < .0001) were significantly higher in neighborhoods with high asthma prevalence. Overall, positive factors explained 21% of asthma variation. Childhood asthma increased as the black population increased in a community (P < .0001). Accordingly, race/ethnicity was controlled. In black neighborhoods, these factors remained significantly higher in neighborhoods with low asthma prevalence. When considered alongside socio-demographic/individual characteristics, overall community vitality as well as social capital continued to contribute significantly to asthma variation.

Conclusion

Asthma prevalence in Chicago is strongly associated with socio-environmental factors thought to enrich a community. A deeper understanding of this impact may lend insight into interventions to reduce childhood asthma.

SUBMITTER: Gupta RS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2754178 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The protective effect of community factors on childhood asthma.

Gupta Ruchi S RS Zhang Xingyou X Sharp Lisa K LK Shannon John J JJ Weiss Kevin B KB

The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 20090517 6

<h4>Background</h4>Asthma burden in the US is not evenly distributed. Although asthma prevalence varies widely across urban neighborhoods, little attention has been paid to the community as a key contributor.<h4>Objective</h4>To determine the effect of positive socio-environmental community factors on childhood asthma prevalence in Chicago.<h4>Methods</h4>From 2003 to 2005, an asthma screening survey was conducted among children attending Chicago Public/Catholic schools from kindergarten through ...[more]

PMID: 19450873

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Project description:BackgroundThere are conflicting views as to whether childhood wheezing represents several discreet entities or a single but variable disease. Classification has centered on phenotypes often derived using subjective criteria, small samples, and/or with little data for young children. This is particularly problematic as asthmatic features appear to be entrenched by age 6/7. In this paper we aim to: identify longitudinal trajectories of wheeze and other atopic symptoms in early childhood; characterize the resulting trajectories by the socio-economic background of children; and identify potentially modifiable processes in infancy correlated with these trajectories.Data and methodsThe Millennium Cohort Study is a large, representative birth cohort of British children born in 2000-2002. Our analytical sample includes 11,632 children with data on key variables (wheeze in the last year; ever hay-fever and/or eczema) reported by the main carers at age 3, 5 and 7 using a validated tool, the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood module. We employ longitudinal Latent Class Analysis, a clustering methodology which identifies classes underlying the observed population heterogeneity.ResultsOur model distinguished four latent trajectories: a trajectory with both low levels of wheeze and other atopic symptoms (54% of the sample); a trajectory with low levels of wheeze but high prevalence of other atopic symptoms (29%); a trajectory with high prevalence of both wheeze and other atopic symptoms (9%); and a trajectory with high levels of wheeze but low levels of other atopic symptoms (8%). These groups differed in terms of socio-economic markers and potential intervenable factors, including household damp and breastfeeding initiation.ConclusionUsing data-driven techniques, we derived four trajectories of asthmatic symptoms in early childhood in a large, population based sample. These groups differ in terms of their socio-economic profiles. We identified correlated intervenable pathways in infancy, including household damp and breastfeeding initiation.

Dataset Information

The protective effect of community factors on childhood asthma.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

The protective effect of community factors on childhood asthma.

Similar Datasets

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