Socioeconomic factors and asthma hospitalization rates in New York City

Asthma morbidity and mortality are not distributed homogeneously among popu lations. To assess the relationship between asthma hospitalization rates an d socioeconomic factors, we conducted an ecologic analysis using small geog raphical areas defined by postal zip code in New York City. Asthma hospital ization rates correlated with low median family income, percentage of minor ities in the population, and percentage of children under the age of 18. La ck of access to preventive health care, poor housing conditions, environmen tal exposures, and genetic susceptibility may contribute to high incidence of asthma in some neighborhoods. This report supports the role of socioecon omic factors in asthma and serves to provide data for regulatory and health agencies to concentrate their efforts on neighborhoods most in need.