title: Characteristics of asthma mortality and morbidity in African-Americans.
abstract: The percent rise in the number of asthma deaths was analyzed using data from the National Center of Health Statistics and compared for African-Americans and Caucasians. The rate of increase for African-Americans in the period 1979-1983 was nearly twice that of Caucasians, and the difference among genders for Caucasians was significantly higher for females. In Baltimore a high percentage (29%) of adult asthma patients (86.8% African-American) seen in an emergency room (ER) and living in the inner city had frequent visits (6 or more annually) to the ER. One-third of the patients used the ER exclusively for asthma management, and 39% delayed for at least 48 hr after onset of symptoms before seeking medical assistance. One-fourth had daily symptoms, and 11% of those regularly employed had missed 10 or more days annually because of asthma. Among the high ER users, 39% required more than one annual hospitalization for management of acute exacerbation of asthma symptoms. Risk factors for mortality and morbidity among inner-city and minority populations as well as potential areas of intervention are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Howard University College of Medicine, Asthma Management Program, Washington, DC 20059.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Malveaux
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Houlihan
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Diamond
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D044383:Black People; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D009017:Morbidity; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health