As part of a series of ongoing US-Mexico studies on asthma in border communities and the impact of air pollution, we collected baseline data from the parents of 1037, primarily Hispanic, school children in Yuma, AZ. Preliminary analysis show a prevalence rate of asthma of 4.5%. This result contrasts with the other US-border cities of Nogales and Douglas, AZ., where asthma prevalence is twice as high as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II (NHANES II). One of the goals of our survey sought to establish biological risk factors associated with asthma. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine odds ratios (OR) for related risk factors. OR results revealed that children with cough compared to children without cough were 5.9, 95% CI (3.1, 11.12), times more likely to be asthmatics. Children with allergies were 4.03, (2.4, 6.7), times more likely to be asthmatics than children without allergies. Children having frequent colds were 1.69, (0.9, 2.8), times more likely to be asthmatics than children without frequent colds. Children who were premature were 1.98, (0.9, 4.5), times more likely to be asthmatics than children not being premature. Children who were in incubators during the first week of life were 5.1, (2.1, 12.6), times more likely to be asthmatics than children who were not in incubators. These preliminary data results support the need for further identification of biological and environmental asthma risk factors in children from the border of US-Mexico.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, audience will identify biological and environmental risk factors for asthma in children from the US-Mexico border cities
Keywords: Asthma, Children
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.