Disparities in asthma prevalence and management in California

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

5153.0: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 3:30 PM

Abstract #50547

Ying-Ying Meng, DrPH¹, Susan Babey, PhD¹, E. Richard Brown, PhD¹, Elizabeth Malcolm, MD², and H. Kenneth Fisher, MD³. (1) UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, 10911 Weyburn Ave, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90024, 310 794-2931, yymeng@ucla.edu, (2) UCLA Department of Internal Medicine, 911 Broxton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024, (3) UCLA, 436 N. Bedford Dr. Suite 214, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Learning Objectives:

Using California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data, the study is designed to assess the prevalence and management of asthma for California's geographically and ethnically diverse population. CHIS is a bi-annual telephone survey of more than 55,000 households drawn from every county in the state, grouped into 41 sampling strata. The CHIS sample was primarily a random-digit-dial survey with over sampling of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and rural counties. This study includes a sample of 7,000 adults, 900 adolescents, and 1,400 children who reported having asthma.

The study describes who has asthma and the geographic distribution of the disease. The study also examine the utilization of emergency rooms and hospitals for asthma care, the receipt of information regarding the control of asthma from health professionals, and the use of medications to control asthma. Additionally, the study covers several issues relevant to access to health care for people with asthma

Conclusions will be presented regarding the extent of racial/ethnic and urban/rural disparities and the effects of health insurance status and access to health care services on disease management, emergency room visits and hospitalizations for asthma. Findings from this study will be used by the state and local health departments to develop policies and programs more effectively manage asthma.

Keywords: Asthma,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Asthma: A Chronic and Growing Challenge In Our Communities

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA