Asthma in Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian Adolescents in the MRC DASH Study: a Cross Sectional Analysis

Overview

Journal BMC Pediatr

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2010 Mar 26

PMID 20334698

Citations 14

Authors

Melissa J Whitrow

Seeromanie Harding

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Ethnic differences in the prevalence of asthma among children in the UK are under-researched. We aimed to determine the ethnic differences in the prevalence of asthma and atopic asthma in children from the main UK ethnic groups, and whether differences are associated with differential distributions in social and psychosocial risk factors.

Methods: 6,643 pupils aged 11-13 years, 80% ethnic minorities. Outcomes were asthma/wheeze with (atopic) and without hay fever/eczema. Risk factors examined were family history of asthma, length of residence in the UK, socioeconomic disadvantage, tobacco exposure, psychological well-being, and body mass index (BMI).

Results: There was a pattern of lower prevalence of asthma in Black African boys and girls, and Indian and Bangladeshi girls compared to White UK. The overall prevalence was higher in Mixed Black Caribbean/White boys, with more atopic asthma in Black Caribbean boys and Mixed Black Caribbean/White boys due to more hayfever. Poor psychological well-being and family history of asthma were associated with an increased risk of asthma within each ethnic group. UK residence for </= 5 years was protective for Black Caribbeans and Black Africans. Increased BMI was associated with an increased reporting of asthma for Black Africans. Adjustments for all variables did not remove the excess asthma reported by Black Caribbean boys (atopic) or Mixed Black Caribbean/White boys.

Conclusion: The protective effect of being born abroad accounted for ethnic differences in some groups, signalling a role for socio-environmental factors in patterning ethnic differences in asthma in adolescence.

Citing Articles

Risk factors for asthma-related hospital and intensive care admissions in children, adolescents and adults: a cohort study using primary and secondary care data.

Simms-Williams N, Nagakumar P, Thayakaran R, Adderley N, Hotham R, Mansur A BMJ Open Respir Res. 2024; 11(1).

PMID: 38692709 PMC: 11086188. DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2023-001746.

Association between ethnicity and migration status with the prevalence of single and multiple long-term conditions in UK healthcare workers.

Ekezie W, Martin C, Baggaley R, Teece L, Nazareth J, Pan D BMC Med. 2023; 21(1):433.

PMID: 38031115 PMC: 10688453. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03109-w.

Association between Green Space Structure and the Prevalence of Asthma: A Case Study of Toronto.

Dong Y, Liu H, Zheng T Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(11).

PMID: 34072529 PMC: 8199317. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115852.

Intersections of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Race and Ethnicity and Asthma Outcomes: Findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Hall T, Rooks R, Kaufman C Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(21).

PMID: 33171864 PMC: 7664623. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218236.

Association of immigrant generational status with asthma.

Philipneri A, Hanna S, Mandhane P, Georgiades K Can J Public Health. 2019; 110(4):462-471.

PMID: 30963505 PMC: 6964630. DOI: 10.17269/s41997-019-00201-8.

References

Eldeirawi K, McConnell R, Freels S, Persky V . Associations of place of birth with asthma and wheezing in Mexican American children. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005; 116(1):42-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2005.03.041. View

Basagana X, Sunyer J, Kogevinas M, Zock J, Duran-Tauleria E, Jarvis D . Socioeconomic status and asthma prevalence in young adults: the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Am J Epidemiol. 2004; 160(2):178-88. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwh186. View

Subramanian S, Jun H, Kawachi I, Wright R . Contribution of race/ethnicity and country of origin to variations in lifetime reported asthma: evidence for a nativity advantage. Am J Public Health. 2009; 99(4):690-7. PMC: 2661487. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.128843. View

Netuveli G, Hurwitz B, Levy M, Fletcher M, Barnes G, Durham S . Ethnic variations in UK asthma frequency, morbidity, and health-service use: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2005; 365(9456):312-7. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)17785-X. View

. Worldwide variation in prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema: ISAAC. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Steering Committee. Lancet. 1998; 351(9111):1225-32. View

Miller J . The effects of race/ethnicity and income on early childhood asthma prevalence and health care use. Am J Public Health. 2000; 90(3):428-30. PMC: 1446167. DOI: 10.2105/ajph.90.3.428. View

Gold D, Wright R . Population disparities in asthma. Annu Rev Public Health. 2005; 26:89-113. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.26.021304.144528. View

Gold D, Acevedo-Garcia D . Immigration to the United States and acculturation as risk factors for asthma and allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005; 116(1):38-41. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2005.04.033. View

Harding S, Maynard M, Cruickshank K, Teyhan A . Overweight, obesity and high blood pressure in an ethnically diverse sample of adolescents in Britain: the Medical Research Council DASH study. Int J Obes (Lond). 2007; 32(1):82-90. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803662. View

10.

Simon P, Zeng Z, Wold C, Haddock W, Fielding J . Prevalence of childhood asthma and associated morbidity in Los Angeles County: impacts of race/ethnicity and income. J Asthma. 2003; 40(5):535-43. DOI: 10.1081/jas-120018788. View

11.

Patino C, Martinez F . Interactions between genes and environment in the development of asthma. Allergy. 2001; 56(4):279-86. DOI: 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2001.00135.x. View

12.

Karunasekera K, Jayasinghe J, Alwis L . Risk factors of childhood asthma: a Sri Lankan study. J Trop Pediatr. 2001; 47(3):142-5. DOI: 10.1093/tropej/47.3.142. View

13.

Chen J, Krieger N, Van Den Eeden S, Quesenberry C . Different slopes for different folks: socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in asthma and hay fever among 173,859 U.S. men and women. Environ Health Perspect. 2002; 110 Suppl 2:211-6. PMC: 1241165. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.02110s2211. View

14.

Wright R, Rodriguez M, Cohen S . Review of psychosocial stress and asthma: an integrated biopsychosocial approach. Thorax. 1999; 53(12):1066-74. PMC: 1745142. DOI: 10.1136/thx.53.12.1066. View

15.

Rona R, Duran-Tauleria E, Chinn S . Family size, atopic disorders in parents, asthma in children, and ethnicity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1997; 99(4):454-60. DOI: 10.1016/s0091-6749(97)70070-8. View

16.

Kuehni C, Strippoli M, Low N, Silverman M . Asthma in young south Asian women living in the United Kingdom: the importance of early life. Clin Exp Allergy. 2007; 37(1):47-53. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02627.x. View

17.

. Worldwide variations in the prevalence of asthma symptoms: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Eur Respir J. 1998; 12(2):315-35. DOI: 10.1183/09031936.98.12020315. View

18.

Custovic A, Taggart S, Craven M, Bonnie B, Woodcock A . Risk factors for asthma in urban Ghana. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001; 108(3):363-8. DOI: 10.1067/mai.2001.117464. View

19.

Chhabra S, Gupta C, Chhabra P, Rajpal S . Prevalence of bronchial asthma in schoolchildren in Delhi. J Asthma. 1998; 35(3):291-6. DOI: 10.3109/02770909809068220. View

20.

Chen E, Hanson M, Paterson L, Griffin M, Walker H, Miller G . Socioeconomic status and inflammatory processes in childhood asthma: the role of psychological stress. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006; 117(5):1014-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2006.01.036. View