The purpose of this study was to identify geographic patterns of asthma in children from South Carolina, and to test for evidence of clustering among adjacent counties statewide between January 1996 and December 1998. Two major factors are critical in the development of asthma: the individual genetic background and the environment. Cluster analysis using the Grimson method based on the crude admission rates and crude proportion rates was utilized to assess the significance of the environmental factor. Children 17 years of age or younger who visited the emergency departments and were hospitalized during the study period were included in the analysis, with a subgroup of young children (less than 5 years old). Eight counties with high adjacency crude admission rates for all children, and 10 counties with crude proportion rates for young children (p<0.01) were identified based on data emergency departments (ED). Five counties had high adjacency crude admission rates (p<0.01) based on hospital discharges (HD) data. Three counties had higher risk based both on ED and HD data, suggesting a strong association between asthma and spatial location. These counties are located in the north-eastern region of South Carolina, known as the “tobacco” region, suggesting that the tobacco dust should be further assessed. A temporal sequence analysis by month in this region showed a statistically significant increase of crude admission rates during October-November (p<0.02). These results can be used as a baseline for developing programs designed to prevent complications in asthmatic children.
Learning Objectives: To assess the crude admission rates and to identify geographic patterns of asthma among children from South Carolina counties
Keywords: Asthma, Public Health Research
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.