The effects of race/ethnicity and income on early childhood asthma prevalence and health care use

Objectives. Asthma is the mast common chronic illness among US children and is most prevalent in low-income rind:minority groups. We used multivariate models to disentangle the effects of race/ethnicity, income, and other ind ividual-level risk factors on asthma in a population-based sample of childr en aged 3 years. Methods. Data are from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey and 1991 Longitudinal Follow-Up. Odds ratios of asthma prevalence, hospital ization, and emergency room use were estimated with control for socioeconom ic characteristics, health: behaviors, and insurance. Results. Asthma prevalence, hospitalization, and emergency room-use decline d with, increasing income for non-Black but not Black children children. Conclusions. Lifetime income and sociodemographic characteristics do not ex plain the excess risks of asthma and emergency health cars use-fdr asthma a mong young Black-children.