#23 Prevalence and risk factors of pediatric asthma in west texas

Abstract

PURPOSE: To measure prevalence and identify risk factors of asthma and wheezing among children aged 16 years and younger in the 40 Texas counties comprising the Panhandle and South Plains regions of Texas. METHODS: 1500 households with children under 16 were interviewed in Fall 2001. Having been diagnosed with asthma and report of a wheezing in the last 12 months were dependent variables in multivariate logistic regressions with age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), farm or ranch residence, household pets, household smoker, household income, household size, and physician utilization as predictors. RESULTS: Asthma prevalence was 13.8% and wheezing attacks were reported by 17.5%. The mean BMI was 20.3 kg/m2 (SD = 6.7, 1st quartile 2.8–16.0, 2nd quartile 16.1–18.8, 3rd quartile 18.9–22.4, 4th quartile 22.5–58.6). Characteristics significantly associated (p < 0.05) with having been diagnosed with asthma included: older children aged 6-10 years (OR = 2.1)(reference is under 6 years) and 11–15 years (OR = 3.4), African-Americans (OR = 2.3) (reference is non-Hispanic white), Hispanics (OR = 0.6), children with higher BMI (3rd quartile OR=1.7, 4th quartile OR = 2.1) (reference is 2nd quartile children), children with 2–3 physician visits (OR = 1.6), and children with 4 or more visits (OR = 3.3). Characteristics associated with a wheezing in the last 12 months (p < 0.05) were: Hispanic ethnicity (OR = 0.6), underweight or overweight BMI (1st quartile OR = 2.1, 3rd quartile OR = 1.9, 4th quartile OR = 2.5), 2–3 physician visits (OR = 1.6), and 4 or more physician visits (OR = 4.0). CONCLUSION: Children belonging to groups at higher risk for asthma or wheezing attacks can be prospectively identified and targeted for receipt of preventive or diagnostic services to control asthma and improve quality of life for children in this region. Furthermore, children suffering from asthma or wheezing attacks are high users of physician services indicating that prevention and control of these conditions has financial implications for the health systems serving this area.