Researchers report asthma epidemic

One-third of adolescents diagnosed with asthma in the San Joaquin Valley miss one to two days of school each month, Fresno State researchers stated in a recently released report. "Struggling to Breathe: The Epidemic of Asthma Among Children and Adolescents in the San Joaquin Valley" was published by the Central California Children's Institute at Fresno State and funded by The California Endowment with additional support of Kaiser Permanente Central California.

"Struggling to Breathe" primarily presented data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), a telephone interview survey conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. The report reveals that the eight-county San Joaquin Valley region experiences the highest prevalence of asthma in the state, with nearly 157,000 children and adolescents ages 0-17 diagnosed with asthma.

 

 

With more children diagnosed with asthma, management of this chronic condition becomes a greater concern. The frequency or prevalence of asthma symptoms is a useful marker of how well the disease is controlled. Asthma symptom prevalence is influenced by severity of the condition, the child's exposure to environmental triggers, and the effectiveness of management strategies.

 

 

"I was most shocked by the wide prevalence of asthma in the region and the frequency at which asthma attacks occur in spite of taking medication," said Dr. Virginia Rondero Hernandez, co-author of "Struggling to Breathe" and associate director of research and evaluation for the Central California Children's Institute.

Not only is there a large prevalence in asthma symptoms among children in the Central Valley, but data also indicates that asthma affects school-age children disproportionately based on age, gender, ethnicity, income level and place of residence.

 

 

The epidemic of asthma in the San Joaquin Valley has multiple effects on the health care system due to delays in detection and difficulty in adequately managing symptoms. The Valley's compromised air quality is a major contributing factor to the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms in children with asthma and is associated with deadly consequences for children and adolescents affected by this condition.

School systems experience a major shortfall in local district revenue for asthma-related absences. Children and adolescents with asthma who have frequent school absences risk low academic achievement and limited physical, social, and emotional development.

"There is a loss in productivity and a great economic burden for parents who provide care to children who experience asthma symptoms," said Dr. Kathleen Curtis, co-author of "Struggling to Breathe " and director of the Central California Center for Health and Human Services at Fresno State .

"Struggling to Breathe" underscores the urgency to find viable solutions for the San Joaquin Valley communities and outlines the need for surveillance to detect, monitor, and track the progress of care for children and adolescents diagnosed with asthma. As a priority, collaborative efforts from policy-makers, health, education, and social service providers are needed to address environmental policy.

"I believe the report has a clear message that will sensitize the community and community leaders about the threat that asthma currently poses to the health and well-being of children and adolescents in our area," said Rondero Hernandez.

"Struggling to Breathe" is available online.

The Central California Children's Institute is dedicated to improving the well-being and quality of life for all children, youth, and their families in the Central California region. For more information about the institute and/or "Struggling to Breathe" report, please contact the Central California Children's Institute at 228-2150.