SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2007

August 15, 2007

Asthma in American Indian adults

Summary
Background – Asthma is an important cause of morbidity in American Native Indians (NI).

Findings – Dixon et al of the Univ of Vermont investigated a sample of participants in the Strong Health Study of NI. They found an overall 6%-7% incidence of asthma in the NI (8% in females, 3% in males). In the 435 NI adults diagnosed as asthmatic, morbidity was high with severe persistent disease in 52% and a history of Emergency Dept visits and/or hospitalization for asthma within the past year in 67%. Yet only 3% were receiving inhaled corticosteroids as maintenance therapy.

Reference
CHEST 2007;131:1323-30

Editor's Comments
Although the overall prevalence of asthma in NI is similar to that in the general US population, the morbidity is quite high, due at least partially to inadequate maintenance treatment.

 

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