Medication use among children with asthma in East Harlem

Purpose. To examine daily use of antiinflammatory medication among children with asthma in East Harlem, where hospitalization rates for asthma are amo ng the highest in the United States. Methods. We analyzed parent/guardian reports of medications used by childre n with current asthma (defined as physician diagnosis and wheezing during t he previous 12 months) identified from a cross-sectional survey conducted i n 2 elementary schools. Results. From an overall sample of 1319 children, 298 with current asthma w ere included in this analysis. Most of those with asthma were Puerto Rican (136 [46%]) or black (98 [33%]), 168 (57%) were boys, and the median age wa s 8 years old. Overall, 65 (22%) were using antiinflammatory medication on a daily basis. A subgroup of 107 children with asthma had been hospitalized during the previous 12 months or had used beta(2)-agonist on a daily basis , suggesting persistent or severe asthma. Of these 107 children, 42 (39%) w ere taking antiinflammatory medication on a daily basis. Multivariate analy sis of these 107 children revealed that daily use of antiinflammatory medic ation was associated with using a spacer tube (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3 .08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27,7.47) and having seen a physician i n the past 6 months (AOR: 3.46; CI: 1.01,11.9). Compared with Puerto Ricans , blacks (AOR: .32; CI: .12,.89) or children of other races/ethnicities (AO R: .27; CI: .09,.85) were less likely to use antiinflammatory medication on a daily basis. Conclusion. Daily use of antiinflammatory medication for children with pers istent or severe asthma in East Harlem was underused. Differences in access to care may explain some findings; however, reasons for ethnic differences in use remain unclear. Both community interventions and additional provide r education are needed.