Study Looks at Asthma Prevalence by Race/Ethnicity, Connection With Housing Conditions

"Racial/Ethnic Differences in Asthma Prevalence: The Role of Housing and Neighborhood Environments," Journal of Health and Social Behavior: The study looks at the prevalence of asthma among 10 racial and ethnic groups in New York City and how housing and neighborhood conditions can contribute to a disparity in prevalence. Researchers found that Puerto Rican-Americans, other Hispanics and blacks had the highest levels of asthma, while Mexican-Americans, Chinese-Americans and Asian/Indians had the lowest levels. They also found that reducing minorities' exposure to deteriorated housing conditions and increasing levels of community unity, as well making improvements in other household factors, reduce asthma rates among blacks and Puerto Rican-Americans. However, even after such interventions, asthma rates among those two groups still remain significantly higher than those among whites (Rosenbaum, JHSB, June 2008).