Asthma, atopy, and lung function among racially diverse, poor inner-urban Minneapolis schoolchildren.
As part of an assessment of schoolchildren's environmental exposures and health, a probability sample of 136 children from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds was drawn from grades 2-5 of two inner-urban Minneapolis schools (Whittier, Lyndale). Questionnaires were administered to a parent/guardian; blood samples for IgE and lung function tests were obtained. Overall adjusted rates for lifetime asthma (15.4%; 95%CI 9.3-21.5%), asthma in the last 12 months (13.6%; 7.8-19.4%), and current asthma medication use (10.5%; 5.3-15.7%) were higher than reported US national rates. Adjusted rates for lifetime physician-diagnosed asthma differed significantly among racial/ethnic groups (P<0.01): African-Americans (25.9%), White/Others (25.8%), Hispanics (9.3%), Somalis (1.8%), Asians (0%). Corresponding rates for atopy (total IgE>100 IU/mL or an allergen-specific IgE>0.35 IU/mL) were: African-Americans (66.6%), White/Others (100%), Hispanics (77.2%), Somalis (78.1%), Asians (81.8%). Lung function (FEV1, FVC) was analyzed by linear regression using log-transformed data: significant race-specific differences in lung function were found relative to White/Others (P<0.001 for each racial/ethnic group): African-Americans (FEV1 -16.5%, FVC -16.9%), Somalis (-22.7%, -26.8%), Hispanics (-12.2%, -11.4%) and Asians (-11.1%, -12.4%). Females had significantly lower FEV1 (-8.8%) and FVC (-11.0%) than males. An unexplained, significant difference in children's lung function was found between the two schools. A history of physician-diagnosed asthma was not associated with decreased lung function. Factors other than poverty, inner-urban living, and IgE levels (atopy) need to be considered in the development of childhood asthma.
Greaves
Ian A
IA
Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, MMC 807, 420 Delaware Street. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. igreaves@umn.edu
Sexton
Ken
K
Blumenthal
Malcolm N
MN
Church
Timothy R
TR
Adgate
John L
JL
Ramachandran
Gurumurthy
G
Fredrickson
Ann L
AL
Ryan
Andrew D
AD
Geisser
Mindy S
MS
D001249:Asthma / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D011204:Poverty Areas; D044469:Racial Groups; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014505:Urban Population
D007073:Immunoglobulin E