Joanne Fagan, PhD¹, Sebastian Bonner, PhD¹, Tinka Markham Piper, MPH, CSW¹, Evie Andreopoulos¹, and Thomas Matte, MD, MPH². (1) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, Fifth floor, New York, NY 10029, 212-822-7281, sbonner@nyam.org, (2) Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2 Lafayette St., 20th Fl., New York, NY 10007

Public interest in respiratory health among preschool children in lower Manhattan was heightened after the World Trade Center attack on 9/11/01. Parents of 3-5 year old children attending 32 preschool centers in lower Manhattan (30% private, 70% subsidized) self-administered a validated brief respiratory questionnaire (BRQ) available in English, Spanish and Chinese from April-June 2002. A BRQ was returned for 1,320 children (70% response rate). Asthma diagnosis was reported for 15% of the children, among whom 21% had at least 1 respiratory-related ED visit, and 3% at least 1 hospitalization in the past 12 months. 89.9% had been prescribed asthma medication in the previous 12 months. Respiratory symptoms without a diagnosis of asthma were reported for 17% of the children, of whom 31% had at least 1 respiratory-related ED visit, 4% at least 1 hospitalization, and 37% had been prescribed asthma medication in the previous 12 months. Children in subsidized preschools were more likely to have received a diagnosis of asthma (19% vs 9% for private centers, p<0.001) and children in private centers were more likely to have symptoms without a diagnosis (31% vs 26% for subsidized centers, p=0.03). These observations suggest that the diagnostic practice of providers serving preschool age children varies depending on whether the children are enrolled in subsidized or private preschools.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe asthma morbidity, medical management, and health care utilization among a diverse sample of preschool age children
• 2. Describe the validated Brief Respiratory Questionnaire (BRQ) used to determine the prevalence of asthma and other breathing problems in preschool children
• 3. Discuss differences in symptom rates across children in private and subsidized preschools

Keywords: Asthma, Surveillance

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.