Citation:

Burbank, A., S. Grabich, K. Mills, D. Diaz-Sanchez, R. Devlin, M. Hernandez, C. Loughlin, M. Frye, K. Todorich, K. Duncan, C. Robinette, AND D. Peden. Effect of aeroallergen sensitization on asthma control in African American teens with persistent asthma. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology , Arlington Heights, IL, 117(4):442-444, (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2016.07.041

Impact/Purpose:

The results emphasize the need for a multipronged approach to assessment of control in African American adolescents with asthma, incorporating a careful history, exam, and spirometry to supplement standardized questionnaires. Placing too much focus on a single indicator may lead to a false perception of asthma control resulting in inappropriate medical management and greater asthma-related morbidity and mortality in this already susceptible group.

Description:

Asthma control depends on many factors, including access and adherence to medications and exposure to asthma triggers. Studies of inner-city children with asthma report that exacerbations decrease when household allergen exposure is reduced1 or with aggressive National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines based therapy.2 African Americans are at higher risk of poorly controlled asthma than other races3 and experience greater asthma-related morbidity and mortality.4,5 We conducted an observational study of African American adolescents between August 2013 and October 2014 examining factors that influence asthma control (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01891630). We hypothesized that allergic status influences asthma control despite guidelines-based therapy. In this report, we present the data from a descriptive analysis of 25 African American teens aged 12 to 17 years with moderate or severe persistent asthma followed up in a subspecialty clinic, comparing teens with poorly controlled asthma with age-matched teens with well-controlled asthma.

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